Urinary tract infection caused by anaerobic bacteria in children

Anaerobic bacteria were recovered from 5 children with urinary tract infection (UTI). Three had pyelonephritis and 2 cystitis. Two of the patients had a history of prior recurrent UTI. Urine samples were collected using suprapubic aspiration. The anaerobic organism recovered were 3 isolates of Bacteroides fragilis and one each of B. melaninogenicus, Peptococcus asaccharolyticus, and Bifidobacterium adolescentis. Mixed infection was present in 3 children. In 2 cases B. fragilis were present with Escherichia coli, and in the other case two anaerobes were present. All patients were treated with antimicrobial agents for ten to fourteen days and responded well to therapy. Two of the children had a recurrence of UTI with aerobic organisms recovered from their urine within six to eight months. This report demonstrates the association of anaerobic organisms with UTI in children. It is suggested that cultures for anaerobic organisms be performed in symptomatic children whose aerobic cultures show no bacterial growth.