Sartori AM, Padilla-Fernández B, 't Hoen L, Blok BFM, Castro-Díaz DM, Del Popolo G, Musco S, Hamid R, Ecclestone H, Groen J, Karsenty G, Phé V, Kessler TM, Pannek J. Definitions of Urinary Tract Infection Used in Interventional Studies Involving Neurourological Patients-A Systematic Review.
Eur Urol Focus 2022;
8:1386-1398. [PMID:
34404618 DOI:
10.1016/j.euf.2021.07.012]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Revised: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT
Neurourological patients often encounter bacteriuria without any symptoms or may experience symptoms suspicious of urinary tract infections (UTIs). However, there is a lack of guidelines that unequivocally state the definition of UTIs in this specific patient group.
OBJECTIVE
To present all used definitions of UTIs in neurourological patients.
EVIDENCE ACQUISITION
This systematic review was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) statement. Studies were identified by electronic search of Medline, Embase, Cochrane controlled trials databases, and clinicaltrial.gov without a time limitation (last search September 2020) and by screening of reference lists and reviews. The occurrences of the various UTI definitions were counted and the frequencies calculated.
EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS
After screening 7164 abstracts, we included 32 studies enrolling a total of 8488 patients with a neurourological disorder who took part in an interventional clinical study. UTI definitions were heterogeneous. The concordance to predefined definitions was low.
CONCLUSIONS
Interventional clinical studies rarely report specific definitions for UTIs, and both clinical and laboratory criteria used are heterogeneous. A generally accepted UTI definition for neurourological patients is urgently needed.
PATIENT SUMMARY
Patients suffering from neurological disorders often experience symptoms in their lower urinary tract that resemble urinary tract infections. Furthermore, they can have positive urine cultures without symptoms (the so-called asymptomatic bacteriuria). However, clinical studies rarely report specific definitions for urinary tract infections, and when it is done, they are heterogeneous. A generally accepted urinary tract infection definition for neurourological patients is urgently needed. TAKE HOME MESSAGE: Interventional clinical studies on neurourological patients rarely report specific definitions for urinary tract infections (UTIs), and both clinical and laboratory criteria used are heterogeneous. A generally accepted UTI definition for neurourological patients is urgently needed.
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