[Current understanding of the urinary tract microbiome in children]
O Turov F1,2,3, P Yatsyk S1,2,3, I Krapivkin A1,2,3
1V.F. Voyno-Yasenetsky Scientific and Practical Center of Specialized Medical Care for Children, Moscow, Russia.
Insights
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common in children. Current diagnostic methods may not fully identify all causative microorganisms, highlighting the need for advanced microbiome research in pediatric urology.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Urology
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a common pediatric condition necessitating antibiotic use.
- Antimicrobial stewardship is crucial for optimizing UTI treatment strategies in children.
- Developing effective diagnostic and treatment models for pediatric UTIs is a priority.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and analyze scientific literature on the urinary tract microbiome in pediatric populations.
- To assess current diagnostic approaches for pediatric UTIs in light of emerging microbiome research.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of domestic and international publications.
- Analysis of studies focusing on the urinary tract microbiome in children.
- Evaluation of traditional versus advanced diagnostic technologies for bacterial infections.
Main Results:
- Traditional urine culture methods are the "gold standard" but may lack sensitivity and specificity.
- The adequacy of standard culturing for identifying all UTI-causing microorganisms remains uncertain.
- The bladder microbiome, including protective bacteria like Lactobacillus, is an emerging area of research for preventing lower urinary tract diseases.
Conclusions:
- Current diagnostic methods for pediatric UTIs may be insufficient.
- Further research into the urinary tract microbiome is essential for improved diagnosis and treatment.
- Understanding the bladder's microbial community can inform strategies for preventing inflammatory conditions.
Introduction:
The second most common reason for prescribing antibiotics in children is urinary tract infection (UTI). Since antimicrobial stewardship is a priority in the further development of strategies of the treatment of children with UTIs, the need to form an optimal model for its diagnosis and treatment is relevant in pediatric urology.
Aim:
To analyze domestic and foreign publications devoted to the study of the urinary tract microbiome in children.
Results:
Cultivation or culturing methods continue to be considered the "gold standard" in many countries for the diagnosis of bacterial infections, although more sensitive and specific technologies are available. A urine sample was previously considered sterile if uropathogens did not grow using standard techniques. It remains unclear whether standard microbial culturing methods are adequate to determine species diversity and identify all microorganisms capable of causing UTIs. A study of the bladder microbiome and maintenance of its homeostasis to prevent inflammatory lower urinary tract diseases is an emerging area of research. It is known that the bladder of a healthy person contains non-uropathogenic bacteria, such as Lactobacillus, which are believed to function as an immune system and protect against the effects of uropathogens.
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