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Published on: February 23, 2014
Invasive disease caused by Haemophilus parainfluenzae III in a child with uropathy
A B Ariza Jiménez1, D Moreno-Perez1, E Núñez Cuadros1
1Pediatrics Department, Carlos Haya Children's Hospital, 29011 Málaga, Spain.
Insights
Haemophilus parainfluenzae urinary tract infections (UTIs) are rare in children and decreasing. Early detection and treatment contribute to this decline, as the bacteria are sensitive to antibiotics.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric infectious diseases
- Microbiology
- Urology
Background:
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common in children.
- Haemophilus parainfluenzae is a rare cause of pediatric UTIs, with limited literature.
- Recent studies suggest a significant decline in H. parainfluenzae UTI occurrence.
Observation:
- A 4-year-old boy presented with a UTI.
- The causative agent was identified as Haemophilus parainfluenzae.
- This case highlights a rare occurrence of H. parainfluenzae UTI in pediatric patients.
Findings:
- The incidence of H. parainfluenzae UTIs in children has decreased by 50% over two decades.
- This decline is attributed to early UTI detection and empirical antibiotic treatment.
- H. parainfluenzae exhibits high sensitivity to common antibiotics.
Implications:
- The findings underscore the importance of updated diagnostic protocols, as standard culture media may not support H. parainfluenzae growth.
- Early and accurate diagnosis remains crucial for effective management of pediatric UTIs.
- Continued surveillance is necessary to monitor trends in pediatric UTI pathogens.
Abstract:
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by Haemophilus parainfluenzae represent a very small percentage of this kind of pathology in children, and it has scarcely been described in the medical literature. According to previous studies of over 800 urine samples in children under 15 years old, a decrease of 50% (from 0.13% to 0.07%) is estimated in its occurrence over the last two decades. This can be explained by the early detection of UTIs and their early empirical treatment, because this micro-organism shows high sensitivity to antibiotics. Also, the culture media in which this bacterium grows are not included in most current protocols. Here we report a case of a UTI caused by H. parainfluenzae in a 4-year-old boy.
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