[Jaundice and urinary tract infection in neonates: simple coincidence or real consequence?]

In neonates, jaundice may be one of the initial symptoms related to urinary tract infection (UTI). The routine testing of the urine in jaundiced neonates is controversial. This study aimed to evaluate the related factors of neonatal infants with the initial presentation of hyperbilirubinemia and the final diagnosis of UTI by evaluating data that help diagnose UTI early in apparently healthy newborns with jaundice.

We retrospectively investigated the medical records of neonates who had been admitted for management of jaundice (n=26) and compared with neonates with jaundice but without UTI (n=26).

There was a significant difference between the two groups in male gender and maternal conditions (prolonged rupture of membranes, maternal UTI). There was also a significant difference between the two groups in their age at the time jaundice started (4 ± 3 days vs 2 ± 1 days) in the UTI and non-UTI groups, respectively (P>0.05). The cases in the UTI group had significantly lower total bilirubin levels (183 ± 71 mg/l) vs (227 ± 40 mg/l) in the non-UTI group, but a higher indirect bilirubin rate than the non-UTI group (P<0.05). Type B blood group was more common in neonates with UTI (P<0.01). In the cases presented herein, none of the jaundiced infants with UTI presented conjugated hyperbilirubinemia. Therefore, urinary tests for UTI should not be absolutely excluded or neglected in neonates in the early stage with unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia. Performing urinary tests to exclude the possibility of coincidental UTI may be necessary for admitted jaundiced infants younger than if they have a high level of indirect bilirubin, especially in male newborns with group B blood and in the presence of maternal urinary infection.