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Pelvi-ureteric junction obstruction by crossing renal vessels: clinical and imaging features.

OBJECTIVE: To present the characteristic clinical and imaging findings of pelvi-ureteric junction (PUJ) obstruction caused by crossing renal vessels (CRV), as it presents particular features within the spectrum of congenital hydronephrosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between April 1982 and December 2000, 384 children underwent surgery for PUJ obstruction. In 71 (18.5%; mean age 8.5 years, range 2 months to 14 years; 49 aged> 5 years), the obstruction was caused by CRV. The data collected from the medical records of these patients were analysed for their clinical presentation and imaging findings, i.e. ultrasonography (US), intravenous urography (IVU) and diuretic renography. RESULTS: The main presenting symptom was recurrent renal colic (pain, nausea, vomiting) in 59%, followed by urinary infection (UTI) in 20%, gross haematuria in 11% and an incidental diagnosis in 10%. By contrast, in the 313 children with intrinsic PUJ obstruction, renal colic was present in only 10.5%. Moreover, from 1991 to 2000, when the use of prenatal US became widespread, hydronephrosis was detected prenatally in 42 of 212 children (20%) with intrinsic PUJ obstruction, but in only two of 31 (6%) with obstruction by CRV. However, in 10 children with CRV operated on during this period, prenatal US had shown mild hydronephrosis (< 15 mm), which during the follow-up decreased until the children became symptomatic after 5-9 years (eight renal colic, two UTI). US during acute symptoms showed significant hydronephrosis (> 25 mm), and colour Doppler US of two patients directly showed the CRV. In all 71 children with CRV obstruction diuretic IVU and renography during the acute symptoms had an obstructive pattern, and in 24 renal colic was reproduced during the examination. The differential kidney function was < 40% in 11 children who presented with UTI; two required nephrectomy and in the remaining 69 an Anderson-Hynes pyeloplasty, after which none had an episode of renal colic or UTI during a mean (range) follow-up of 10.2 (2-20) years. CONCLUSIONS: PUJ obstruction by CRV should be suspected in older children presenting with recurrent renal colic and hydronephrosis. Good kidney function is expected in most of these children, despite their age, because the vascular obstruction is intermittent. Mild prenatal hydronephrosis that could decrease postnatally does not exclude the possibility of vascular obstruction, which may later become symptomatic. Imaging (US, diuretic IVU and renography) during an episode of pain is essential and colour Doppler US could help to establish the diagnosis in these cases. Knowing that a child has a CRV is important for choosing an open surgical approach rather than endoscopic pyelotomy, to avoid potential complications

Adolescent↗

Pneumonia and urinary tract infection after acute ischaemic stroke: a tertiary analysis of the GAIN International trial.

The third most common stroke complication is infection. We studied the rates of aspiration pneumonia and urinary tract infection (UTI), their risk factors and their effect on outcome in the 1455 Glycine Antagonist (Gavestinel) in Neuroprotection (GAIN) International patients with ischaemic stroke. Forward stepwise logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards modelling identified baseline factors that predicted events and the independent effect of events up to day 7 on poor stroke outcome at 3 months in patients alive at day 7, after correcting for prognostic factors. Higher baseline National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and age, male gender, history of diabetes and stroke subtype predicted pneumonia, which occurred in 13.6% of patients. Female gender and higher baseline NIHSS and age predicted UTI, which occurred in 17.2% of patients. Pneumonia was associated with poor outcome by mortality (hazard ratio, 2.2; 95% confidence interval, 1.5-3.3), Barthel index (<60) (odds ratio, 3.8; 2.2-6.7), NIHSS (4.9; 1.7-14) and Rankin scale (>/=2) (3.4; 1.4-8.3). UTI was associated with Barthel index (1.9; 1.2-2.9), NIHSS (2.2; 1.2-4.0) and Rankin scale (3.1; 1.6-4.9). Pneumonia and UTI are independently associated with stroke poor outcome. Patients with identified risk factors must be closely monitored for infection.

Age Factors↗

Comparison of three chromogenic agar plates for isolation and identification of urinary tract pathogens.

OBJECTIVE: To comparatively assess the performance of three chromogenic agar plates, CPS ID2, Chromogenic UTI, and USA, for the detection and enumeration of all urinary tract pathogens and the direct identification of Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis and Enterococcus spp. METHODS: Two hundred and forty-three urine specimens prospectively collected from hospitalized patients were randomly inoculated in parallel on the three media. RESULTS: Of the 243 urine specimens, 235 yielded positive cultures, of which 151 were pure cultures and 84 were mixed cultures. CPS ID2, Chromogenic UTI and USA agar gave detection rates of 99.1%, 97.1% and 96.6%, respectively. The main difference in non-detection between CPS ID2 agar and the two new media concerned Staphylococcus spp. strains. Based on the total number of strains detected (n = 348), the total identification rates of E. coli, P. mirabilis and Enterococcus spp. on CPS ID2 agar, Chromogenic UTI agar and USA agar were 60.3%, 61.2% and 59.2%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The detection rates and identification rates of the three media were very close and only minor differences were noted. The lower detection rates for Chromogenic UTI and USA were mainly due to their lesser ability to support growth of Staphylococcus spp.

Agar↗

Field evaluation of a second-generation cytometer UF-100 in diagnosis of acute urinary tract infections in adult patients.

AIMS: The authors evaluated the analytical performance of the Sysmex UF-100 cytometer vs. the diagnosis of urinary tract infections (UTI). METHODS: We considered 2010 subjects, aged between 18 and 78, 870 males and 1140 females. The majority (90.2%) of the samples were voided urine specimens collected by using the midstream technique. Each sample was subjected to microbiological evaluation (culture + residual antibacterial activity), dipstick tests, UF-100 examination and microscopic observation. In order to obtain a final diagnosis of UTI these laboratory results were taken into consideration together with clinical data and patients' characteristics. The analytical performance of the laboratory tests was obtained by adopting this diagnosis as standard practice. RESULTS: Out of the total 2010 subjects considered a clinical diagnosis of UTI was obtained in 529 cases (26.32%). The UF-100-based screening had sensitivity, 0.94; specificity, 0.93; positive predictive value, 0.83; negative predictive value, 0.98; and correctly classified incidence, 0.93. CONCLUSIONS: In our experience the results of the UF-100-based screening show a very good correlation with the diagnosis of acute UTI in adults patients.

Acute Disease↗

Antimicrobial prophylaxis for urinary tract infection in persons with spinal cord dysfunction.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the benefits and harms of antimicrobial prophylaxis to prevent urinary tract infections (UTIs) in persons with neurogenic bladders caused by spinal cord dysfunction. DATA SOURCES: A broad search strategy with no language restriction was conducted of MEDLINE (1966-January 1998), EMBASE (1974-January 1998), and CINAHL (1982-July 1998) using the general search terms urinary tract, urinary tract infections, bacteriuria, paraplegia, quadriplegia, spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis, neurogenic bladder, and neuropathic bladder. Additional articles were identified by experts and by reviewing reference lists of articles obtained from searches. STUDY SELECTION: Criteria included human studies of adults and adolescents who had neurogenic bladder due to spinal cord dysfunction; the studies had to address antimicrobial prophylaxis of UTI and include bacteriuria or UTI as an outcome. We excluded any study that was clearly not a controlled trial or that only included children under the age of 13 years. Two reviewers independently abstracted data, and disagreements were resolved by consensus. DATA EXTRACTION: Two reviewers independently abstracted data, and disagreements were resolved by consensus. Studies were graded by 1 project investigator according to quality criteria developed by Jadad and Schulz. DATA SYNTHESIS: The sizes of the effect of antimicrobial prophylaxis on weekly infection rates from 15 trials that met the inclusion criteria were pooled by using a random effects model. Antimicrobial prophylaxis did not significantly decrease symptomatic infections. Prophylaxis was associated with a reduction in asymptomatic bacteriuria among acute patients (<90d after spinal cord injury; P <.05); 1 patient would require 3.7 weeks of treatment on average to prevent 1 asymptomatic infection. For nonacute patients, the reduction approached statistical significance (P =.06). Prophylaxis resulted in an approximately twofold increase in antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. CONCLUSIONS: The regular use of antimicrobial prophylaxis for most patients who have neurogenic bladder caused by spinal cord dysfunction is not supported. A clinically important effect, however, has not been excluded. Future research should focus on randomized trials in those patients who have recurrent UTIs that limit their daily functioning and well-being.

Antibiotic Prophylaxis↗

[Bacterial pathogens, resistance patterns and treatment options in community acquired pediatric urinary tract infection].

BACKGROUND: Epidemiology and resistance patterns of bacterial pathogens in pediatric UTI show large interregional variability and rates of bacterial resistances are changing due to different antibiotic treatment. We intended to evaluate data from northern Germany. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In 100 children (53 female, 47 male, mean age 4.4 +/- 4.2 years) with community acquired UTI, who presented in the emergency department of our medical school from 2000 - 2002, urine cultures were performed. Inclusion criteria were: acute voiding symptoms, significant bacteriuria with growth of at least 10 (5) colony-forming units/ml urine, leukocyturia > 50/ micro l. Exclusion criteria were underlying renal diseases, anatomic abnormalities of the urinary tract, age < 2 months and recurrent UTI. RESULTS: Patients presented with a mean rectal temperature of 38.6 +/- 1.3 degrees C, mean CRP of 66 +/- 68 mg/dl, mean WBC 13 500 +/- 5 600/ micro l and mean urinary leukocytes of 425 +/- 363/ micro l. In urine cultures E. coli was found in 47 % of the cases, Enterococcus faecalis 23 %, Proteus mirabilis 8 %, Klebsiella oxytoca 4 %, Pseudomonas aeruginosa 5 % and others 13 %. In 76 % one and in 24 % two different bacterial species (60 % Enterococcus faecalis) were cultured. Mean resistance rates were in all bacteria (in E. coli): Ampicillin 53 % (69 %), Ampicillin and Sulbactam 51 % (61 %), Cefalosporin 1 (st) generation (Cefaclor) 48 % (24 %), Cefalosporin 2 (nd) generation (Cefuroxim) 40 % (3 %), Cefalosporin 3 (rd) generation (Cefuroxim) 33 % (0 %), Tobramycin 30 % (2 %), Ciprofloxacine 0 %, Cotrimoxazole 40 % (42 %), Nitrofurantoin 12 % (0 %). CONCLUSION: The resistance rates to Ampicillin (+/- Sulbactam) did not increase as compared to previous analyses (1990 - 1995), however, resistance rates to Cotrimoxazole and 1 (st) generation Cefalosporines increased about 20 %. We conclude that the policies for treatment of UTI in children should be re-evaluated every 5 years according to local resistance rates.

Anti-Infective Agents, Urinary↗

[Diagnosis of urinary tract infections in puerperium].

Urinary tract infections (UTI) are the most frequent nosocomial infections of women during puerperium. Since, in these women, diagnostic accuracy is affected by lochial secretion, suprapubic urinary bladder puncture (SPB) is recommended. Between December 1989 and January 1993, we subjected 903 women to suprapubic urinary bladder puncture (SpBP) at the 4th or 5th day after delivery. A urine culture of SpBP was done in all cases. Semiquantitative leukocyte counts (n = 891) and nitrite test (n = 830) were done on mid-stream urine (MSU). Side by side with microbiological investigation for urinary tract pathogens via SpPB, MSU was performed in 246 cases immediately after SpPB had been carried out. Leukocyte counts were also estimated in SpBP urine samples. In 370 (41.1%) of 903 SpBP, one or more microorganisms were cultivated. Only 36 (4.0%) of 903 women showed UTI symptoms. Microorganisms were detectable via SpBP in only 26 (72.7%) of these 36 symptomatic patients. Vaginal-operative or secondary caesarean section are related to an increased UTI rate (p < 0.001). UTI were also significantly (p < 0.0001) more frequent in women subjected to catheterisation sub partu (54.5%) compared to no catheterism (24.4%). No significant differences between the number of leukocytes in MSU sediment and the SpBP findings were seen. Semiquantitative leukocyte counts in SpBP offered a significantly (p < 0.001) increased number of leukocytes in cases with microorganism detection in SpBP irrespective of MSU findings. These results justify the designation of uterine tract infection also in the absence of complaints as "infection" and not common "bacteriuria".(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Bacteria↗

Incidence of urinary tract infection in neonates with antenatally diagnosed ureteroceles.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the incidence of neonatal urinary tract infection (UTI) in the presence of a ureterocele. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifteen successive patients with antenatally detected ureteroceles were reviewed between 1991 and 1996. Sixteen ureteroceles were treated (in one patient they were bilateral). Seven ureteroceles were intravesical, and nine were ectopic. Fourteen patients had a duplex upper tract associated with a ureterocele. One patient had one duplex upper tract and one simple upper tract, both associated with a ureterocele. RESULTS: Of the fifteen neonates with a ureterocele, eight already had a UTI on admission. Of these, three had had prophylactic antibiotics. Of the eight infected patients, seven were symptomatic (three with septicaemia). CONCLUSION: If diagnosed antenatally, obstruction has to be relieved as early as possible during the first week of life as antibiotic prophylaxis alone is not sufficient to avoid UTI in these patients. The authors point out the high frequency of UTI in patients with ureterocele.

Female↗

Epidemiology of bacteriuria caused by vancomycin-resistant enterococci--a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: The epidemiology of vancomycin-resistant enterococcal (VRE) bacteriuria has not been previously described. Our objectives are to describe the frequency of VRE bacteriuria, to use strict definitions to distinguish symptomatic urinary tract infection (UTI) versus urine colonization without pyuria versus asymptomatic bacteriuria with pyuria, and to describe the outcomes of each group. METHODS: We used a retrospective analysis of patients with VRE bacteriuria in an academic medical center. RESULTS: During the 18-month study period, 98 of the 107 patients (92%) with urine cultures positive for VRE (23/10,000 admissions), had charts that were available for review. In 94 of 98 patients, the organism was Enterococcus faecium, and in only 4 was Enterococcus faecalis recovered. Thirty-seven patients were colonized with VRE; 21 patients had asymptomatic bacteriuria, and the status of 27 patients was not ascertainable. Thirteen patients had VRE UTIs with two associated bacteremias and one death. Patients with UTI versus patients without UTI were more likely to have an underlying malignancy (39% vs 9%, P =.014). CONCLUSION: The majority of urine cultures yielding VRE do not represent true infection, rather colonization or asymptomatic bacteriuria.

Adolescent↗

Ciprofloxacin for 2 or 4 weeks in the treatment of febrile urinary tract infection in men: a randomized trial with a 1 year follow-up.

In an open, prospective, single-centre study, 114 men with a presumptive diagnosis of febrile urinary tract infection (UTI) were randomized to oral treatment with ciprofloxacin 500 mg twice daily for 2 or 4 weeks. 72 patients were assessable for efficacy according to the protocol, 65 of whom had prostatic involvement by the infection, as measured by transient increases in serum prostate-specific antigen and prostate volume. All patients responded successfully with resolution of fever and symptoms during treatment. There were no significant differences in short-term bacteriological and clinical cure rates between the 2 treatment regimens [89 vs 97%, 95%, confidence interval (95% CI) for difference in proportions -3 to 19%; and 92 vs 97%, 95% CI -5 to 15%, respectively]. The lower cure rates among those allocated to the 2 week regimen may be explained by a higher frequency of urinary tract abnormalities requiring surgical intervention. After 1 y, 21 patients had experienced recurrences, which comprised asymptomatic bacteriuria (n = 10), symptomatic lower UTI (n = 5) and another episode of febrile UTI (n = 6). The results suggest that a 2 week course of ciprofloxacin may be adequate for febrile UTI in men.

Administration, Oral↗

The natural course of uncomplicated lower urinary tract infection in women illustrated by a randomized placebo controlled study.

This prospective, multicentre, randomized, double-blind and placebo controlled study was performed to describe the natural course of uncomplicated lower urinary tract infection (UTI). A total of 1143 women 18 y and above, consulting at 18 primary health care centres in northern Sweden for symptoms suggestive of UTI were included. The symptoms urgency, dysuria, suprapubic pain and loin pain were registered, and urine cultures performed at inclusion and follow-up visits 8-10 d and 5-7 weeks later. Associations between all symptoms and bacteriuria or bacterial counts were unpredictable. Eradication of symptoms and bacteriuria and combinations of them were studied in 288 patients placebo treated for 7 d, of whom 39% dropped out after the first follow-up visit. The spontaneous cure rate of symptoms was 28% after the first week, and 37% had neither symptoms nor bacteriuria after 5-7 weeks. Considering the high dropout rate after the first follow-up visit, the spontaneous cure rate of symptoms and bacteriuria was calculated to 24% at the end of study. We conclude that patient near-laboratory tests are required to establish the diagnosis of lower UTI, and the guidelines for diagnosis of UTI need to be revised.

Adult↗

Pediatric urolithiasis--evaluation of risk factors in 95 children.

OBJECTIVE: Pediatric urolithiasis is a rarely encountered pathology, except in endemic areas such as Turkey. As a recurrent pathology which may reveal functional as well and morphologic changes in the urinary tract, metabolic and environmental factors, in addition to urogenital abnormalities, should be evaluated thoroughly in each patient. In this prospective study, the patient and family histories of 95 children with stone disease were evaluated, together with serum and urine risk factors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between 1996 and 2001, 95 children (25 females, 70 males; mean age 7.3 years; age range 0.6-15 years) referred to our department with urolithiasis were evaluated. All patients were investigated with respect to stone localization, associated abnormalities, urinary tract infection (UTI), positive family history and serum and urine risk factors. In addition to standard risk factors (hypocitraturia, hypercalciuria, hyperoxaluria, hyperuricosuria, hypomagnesuria), diet and 24-h urine volume were also assessed in all children. Children with cystinuria were excluded from the study. RESULTS: Stone size ranged from 0.3 to 3.3 cm, with an average value of 2.0 cm. The localization of the stones was classified as unilateral single stone in 37 patients, multiple unilateral stones in six and bilateral multiple stones in 27. Hypocitraturia was the commonest risk factor detected in our patients. A positive family history was present in 51 cases (54%). In addition, UTI was present in 59 cases (62%) and 67 cases had a previous history of recurrent UTI. Associated urogenital abnormality was detected in nine cases (9.4%). There were significant correlations between stone size and urinary citrate excretion (p < 0.05) and between the presence of UTI and urinary phosphate excretion (r = 0.59, p = 0.047). Treatments used were open surgery in seven (7.3%) cases, extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy in 39 (41%) and endoscopic surgery in 20 (21%). Following these procedures, 39 (41%) patients were completely stone-free, 11 (11%) had residual stones (<5 mm in diameter) and 12 (14.8%) passed the stone(s) spontaneously. During follow-up, regrowth was seen in four (4.2%) patients and stone recurrence was noted in a further four (4.2%). CONCLUSIONS: In addition to stone removal, treatment of pediatric urolithiasis requires a thorough metabolic and environmental evaluation of all patients on an individual basis. Obstructive pathologies have to be corrected immediately and apparent metabolic abnormalities should also be treated. Children with a positive family history should be followed carefully with respect to stone recurrence. Urine volume increases in parallel with body mass index and medical therapeutic agents which increase urine citrate levels should be encouraged.

Adolescent↗

Renal concentrating capacity in female outpatients with symptomatic urinary tract infection.

OBJECTIVE: Renal concentrating capacity (RCC) has been used as a tool in the diagnosis of the site of urinary tract infection (UTI). In this study, RCC was measured in women with symptoms of UTI in relation to the clinical picture and the bacterial species isolated. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In 633 outpatients aged > or =18 years with symptoms of UTI, a renal concentration test with desmopressin was performed at baseline. The test was repeated after antibiotic treatment in a subset of patients with osmolality values below the reference levels at entry. The bacterial species were identified and patients were classified as having either pyelonephritis or cystitis. RESULTS: RCC was reduced in patients infected with Escherichia coli or Staphylococcus saprophyticus compared to those who had negative urine cultures and increased after antibiotic treatment. Patients with symptoms of both pyelonephritis and cystitis had reduced RCC: 44/68 (65%) and 205/457 (45%), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate a considerable overlap in RCC between patients with pyelonephritis and cystitis, making the osmolality test unreliable for the purpose of diagnosis of the site of UTI.

Adolescent↗

Establishment of an enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assay for urinary trypsin inhibitor by using a monoclonal antibody.

Monoclonal antibodies against inter-alpha-trypsin-inhibitor (ITI) were produced. One clone showing specificity for urinary trypsin inhibitor (UTI), a proteolytic fragment of ITI, which is excreted into urine, was selected for the establishment of an enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assay (ELISA). The ELISA for the quantification of UTI was shown to work reproducibly in the range between 0.5 and 10 ng UTI/ml urine. Urines of several patients suffering from different lung diseases were screened for UTI using the established ELISA. Highest UTI levels were found in the urine of patients with lung empyema. A more moderate increase was observed in patients suffering from lung tuberculosis and from secondary and primary lung tumors.

Alpha-Globulins↗

Frequency and clinical features of urinary tract infection in paediatric out-patients in Nigeria.

A survey of urinary tract infections (UTI) was conducted in a paediatric out-patient department in Northern Nigeria over six months. The most common presenting complaints of UTI were pyrexia of unknown origin (PUO) and mild diarrhoea. The frequency of symptomatic UTI in out-patients was estimated at 0.4%. Asymptomatic UTI was common in children with nephrotic syndrome (16%) and severe malnutrition (23%). Abnormalities of the urinary tract were found on I.V.P. in four out of twelve boys and one out of nine girls with symptomatic infection. Micturating cystograms (MCUG) were of less value because even if severe ureteric reflux was found, long term follow-up was not practical. Follow-up could be maintained with greater success from local clinics.

Child↗

Urinary tract pathogens and antimicrobial sensitivity patterns in children in Ibadan, Nigeria.

A study of bacterial organisms isolated from 65 Nigerian children who had urinary tract infection (UTI) is reported. The predominant isolate in both inpatients and outpatients was Klebsiella species which accounted for 52.8% of cases. Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas spp and Proteus spp accounted for 25.0%, 15.3% and 5.5% of isolates, respectively. All isolates were poorly sensitive to the common first-line drugs used in UTI in our environment, namely, cotrimoxazole and ampicillin, but exhibited good sensitivity to nalidixic acid, nitrofurantoin and ofloxacin. It is recommended that nitrofurantoin and nalidixic acid be used for blind treatment of UTI in Nigerian children in Ibadan while results of culture and sensitivity are awaited. Continuous monitoring of the pattern of organisms isolated in childhood UTI and their antibiotic resistance patterns is recommended as an essential step in guiding blind antibiotic therapy in such cases.

Adolescent↗

Evaluation of DMSA scintigraphy and urography in assessing both acute and permanent renal damage in children.

PURPOSE: To evaluate dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) scintigraphy and urography in the detection of renal involvement in children with urinary tract infection (UTI) in order to identify patients with a high risk of developing renal damage. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 157 children (median age 0.4 years, range 5 days to 5.8 years) with first-time symptomatic UTI were examined scintigraphy (with an assessment of renal area involvement) and urography at the time of UTI and 1 year later. All evaluations were made blindly. RESULTS: Of the total 314 kidneys, 80 (25%) were abnormal at initial scintigraphy. Of these 80 kidneys, 44 (55%) had normalized at follow-up. Of the 234 initially normal kidneys, 29 (12%) were abnormal at follow-up. One year after UTI, abnormalities were seen in 59 children at scintigraphy and in 18 children at urography. Renal area involvement was larger and split function abnormalities more common in kidneys that were abnormal at both scintigraphy and urography than in kidneys with only scintigraphic abnormalities. CONCLUSION: Quantitation of renal area involvement and split renal function at early scintigraphy would seem to be useful in identifying patients at risk of developing renal damage. Urography at 1 year after infection identified mainly those with the most severe scintigraphic abnormalities. The clinical importance of scintigraphic abnormalities that are not confirmed by urography is not known.

Acute Disease↗

Protective effect of breastfeeding against urinary tract infection.

AIM: To assess the possible protective effect of exclusive breastfeeding against first-time febrile urinary tract infection (UTI) in children. METHODS: Two children's hospitals and local child health centres in the Göteborg area, Sweden, participated in a prospective case-control study. In total, 200 consecutive cases (89M, 111F), aged 0-6y, presenting with first-time febrile UTI were enrolled. The mean +/- SD age was 0.98 +/- 1.15 y. As control subjects, 336 children (147M, 189F) were recruited from the child health centre of the case, matched for age and gender and included consecutively for each case during the first days after diagnosis. The duration of exclusive breastfeeding was obtained from the case and controls by a standardized procedure. RESULTS: Ongoing exclusive breastfeeding gave a significantly lower risk of infection. A longer duration of breastfeeding gave a lower risk of infection after weaning, indicating a long-term mechanism. The protective role of breastfeeding was strongest directly after birth, then decreased until 7 mo of age, after which age no effect was demonstrated. CONCLUSION: A protective role of breastfeeding against UTI was demonstrated. The study provides statistical support to the view that breast milk is a part of the natural defence against UTI.

Age Factors↗