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Home-testing for recurrent bacteriuria, using nitrite strips

D W Scheifele, A L Smith

    American Journal of Diseases of Children (1960)
    |January 1, 1978
    PubMed

    Insights

    Home testing for recurrent urinary infections in children using nitrite strips is effective. Parents successfully detected most infections, simplifying follow-up care for pediatric bacteriuria.

    Area of Science:

    • Pediatric Nephrology
    • Clinical Microbiology
    • Diagnostic Testing

    Background:

    • Recurrent urinary infections pose challenges for pediatric follow-up.
    • Accurate home-based testing could simplify monitoring for bacteriuria in children.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To evaluate the reliability of home-based nitrite test strips for detecting urinary tract infections in girls with recurrent infections.
    • To assess parental compliance and the efficacy of home testing in identifying bacteriuria.

    Main Methods:

    • Nitrite test strips were provided to parents of 30 girls with recurrent urinary infections.
    • Home testing of first-voided urine was performed twice weekly.
    • Infections were confirmed via dip slides or urine colony counts (>10^5 bacteria/mL).

    Main Results:

    • 80% of families complied with the home testing protocol over an average of 11 months.
    • Home testing detected 93% of bacteriuria episodes (28 out of 30).
    • No false-positive results were recorded, and urinary nitrate was consistently present.

    Conclusions:

    • Twice-weekly home nitrite testing is a reliable method for detecting bacteriuria in children with recurrent urinary infections.
    • Motivated parents can effectively use nitrite test strips for home follow-up, simplifying pediatric UTI management.
    • The nitrite test is a valuable tool for at-home monitoring of children at high risk for recurrent bacteriuria.

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