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Quantitative Bacteriological Examination of Urine in Children with Urinary Tract Infections
Author(s) -
LYSTAD ARVE,
GARDBORG ODD
Publication year - 1963
Publication title -
acta pædiatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/j.1651-2227.1963.tb03780.x
Subject(s) - urine , medicine , urinary system , antibiotics , urology , pathology , microbiology and biotechnology , biology
SUMMARY Quantitative bacteriological examinations have been carried out in 287 urine specimens from 74 girls and 44 boys with urinary tract infection (17 girls and 21 boys below the age of 3 years and 57 girls and 23 boys between 3 and 12 years of age). Clean voided specimens were consistently taken from the boys. Partly clean voided, partly catheterized specimens were taken from the girls. Gram‐stained smears from the urine specimens were also examined in the microscope. The investigations show a good correlation between quantitative bacteriological results and clinical findings. The lower limit of 100,000 bacteria per ml from fresh samples of bladder urine as an indication of infection seems to be correct. There is good agreement between the results of the quantitative bacteriological examinations and direct microscopic examination of gram‐stained smears of the uncentrifuged urine. This supports the use of direct microscopy in diagnosis of urinary tract infections. In 50 double specimens from 49 girls without infection (the norm), and in 35 double specimens from 33 girls with urinary tract infection a correspondence was found between clean voided and catheter specimens in about 82% of the cases. It may be concluded that clean voided specimens taken lege artis and followed up by quantitative bacteriological examination should yield a reliable diagnostic method. The quantitative method can be used to distinguish between infection and contamination. The investigations indicate a strong tendency for microbes to develop resistance during treatment with chemotherapeutic agents or antibiotics. This emphasizes the importance of repeated bacteriological examinations of patients with urinary tract infection. The importance of obstruction as an etiological factor in urinary tract infection in children is supported.