Urinary tract infection (UTI) in newborns: risk factors, identification and prevention of consequences

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Neonatology
• Urology

Background:

• Urinary tract infections (UTI) and urinary tract anomalies (UTA) can have serious consequences if not identified early.
• Perinatal screening is crucial for early detection and management of these conditions in newborns.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify urinary tract infections (UTI) and urinary tract anomalies (UTA) in the perinatal period.
• To establish criteria for identifying newborns at risk for UTI and UTA.
• To prevent severe outcomes associated with these conditions in children.

Main Methods:

• Screening of 1200 newborns for potential UTI using urinalysis.
• Further diagnostic tests including urine specimens, C-reactive protein (CRP), Complete Blood Count (CBC), and bilirubin for newborns with significant bacteriuria.
• Ultrasound, direct radionuclide cystography, and Tc99m MAG3 dynamic scanning for newborns with suspected UTI and UTA.

Main Results:

• The frequency of UTI in the perinatal period was 4.5%.
• Urinary tract anomalies (UTA) were detected in 29.6% of the examined newborns.
• Risk factors for UTI included family history of UTA, maternal pre-eclampsia, febrile infections, intrauterine growth retardation, premature rupture of membranes, and neonatal complications like jaundice, cyanosis, and asphyxia.

Conclusions:

• Early identification of UTI and UTA in the perinatal period is feasible and essential.
• Specific risk factors can help select newborns requiring further investigation for UTI and UTA.
• Timely diagnosis and intervention can mitigate the serious consequences of perinatal UTIs and UTAs.