Urinary tract infections in pediatric orthopedic surgical patients: a Single Institution National Surgical Quality...

Perioperative urinary tract infections (UTIs) are poorly studied among pediatric orthopedic surgical patients. We evaluated the incidence of and risk factors for UTI in a large volume of pediatric orthopedic surgical patients.

Children <18 who underwent orthopedic surgery between March 2015 and December 2018 were analyzed using our institution's National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) data. Demographic, perioperative and outcome data of patients who developed a UTI within 30 days of surgery were compared to patients without UTI.

NSQIP data were available for 520 surgeries (324 girls and 196 boys). Median age at surgery was 13.5 years. A Foley was placed in 301/520 cases (88/196 boys and 213/324 girls) in 264 children. Six cases of UTI occurred within 30 days of surgery (1.2% of surgeries). The UTI rate among patients with a Foley was 2.3%, and among girls with a Foley was 2.8%. No UTIs occurred without a Foley, nor any in boys. All six occurred in the American Society of Anesthesiologists Class 2 females, ages 7-15 undergoing elective surgery with Foley for over 48 h. Factors associated with an increased odds of developing UTI included: higher BMI [OR, 1.12 (CI, 1.01-1.22; P  = 0.03)], developmental delay [OR, 7.82 (CI, 1.40-43.7; P  = 0.02)], structural central nervous system abnormality [OR, 17.5 (CI, 3.89-90.4; P  = 0.01)], longer duration with Foley [OR, 1.68 (CI, 1.22-2.32; P  = 0.002)] and hospital readmission within 30 days [OR 14.2 (CI, 2.32-87.3; P  = 0.004)].

Risk of UTI is low after pediatric orthopedic surgery. Girls with comorbidities including structural central nervous system abnormality, developmental delay and higher BMI with prolonged Foley catheterization may have higher postoperative UTI risk. Level of Evidence: II.