Asymptomatic bacteriuria in school children in a rural area, Egypt

Forty hundred and fifty urine samples collected from school children in a rural area were screened for the presence of significant bacteriuria. The incidence of asymptomatic bacteriuria was found to be 7% with Predominance in females (11%) than in males (3.6%). From the total bacterial isolates E. coli were isolated in 18% of cases, Co-agulase positive staphylococci in 30%, co-agulase negative staphylococci in 15%, streptococcus pyogenes in 6%, Klebsiella species in 9% and enterococci in 21% of cases. There was no difference between the incidence of asymptomatic bacteriuria (ABU) in younger children than in older ones. We recommended a routine screening for ABU among school children for the early diagnosis and management of such cases.