Pediatr Infect Vaccine.  2022 Aug;29(2):84-95. 10.14776/piv.2022.29.e9.

Possibility of Combined Meningitis in Under 90-Day-Old Infants With Urinary Tract Infection

• Hwang JH
• Kim SY
• Lee NM
• Yi DY
• Yun SW
• Chae SA
• Lim IS
• Park JY

• KMID: 2538280
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.14776/piv.2022.29.e9

Abstract

Purpose
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the most common serious bacterial infections in young infants. Lumbar puncture (LP) has been used to diagnose coexisting meningitis in infants under 90 days of age with suspected UTI in many hospitals. However, the incidence of bacterial meningitis associated with UTIs is low. We aimed to describe the prevalence of concomitant bacterial meningitis in young infants with UTIs.
Methods
The medical records of infants with the first episode of UTI admitted to the ChungAng University Hospital from January 2010 to December 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Infants aged < 90 days who underwent LP with initial evaluation were included. Demographic and clinical features, laboratory findings, and imaging findings were collected and analyzed.
Results
Eighty-six infants with UTIs were enrolled in the study. The median age was 61.5 days (interquartile range, 42.3–73.8 days) and boys (90.7%) were predominant. Escherichia coli was the most common pathogen (n=80, 93.0%) and followed by Klebsiella species (n=5, 5.8%). Fifteen (18.1%) specimens produced extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL). Five (5.8%) infants had positive blood culture results. Seven (8.1%) infants showed pleocytosis in the cerebrospinal fluid, but none had coexisting bacterial meningitis. Twenty-four (30.8%) infants showed renal dilatation or hydronephrosis on ultrasonography. Dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) scans revealed cortical defects in 17 (21.3%) infants while voiding cystourethrography revealed vesicoureteral reflux in 6 (46.2%) infants.
Conclusion
Co-existing bacterial meningitis was not observed in young infants with UTIs. LP could not be routinely performed considering the clinical condition of <90 days old UTI patients.

Keyword

Infant; Korea; Meningitis; Urinary tract infections