Is antibiotic prophylaxis necessary for voiding cystourethrography?

Incidence of post-procedure symptomatic urinary tract infection in children undergoing micturition cystourethrogram in the absence of antibiotic cover

Context

Prophylactic antibiotics are usually not recommended for an in and out catheterization. However procedures involving similar catheterizations like micturition cystourethrogram (MCUG) and cystometrogram are being performed under prophylactic antibiotic cover.

Aims

We aim to find the incidence of symptomatic urinary tract infections following MCUG done in children without antibiotic cover.

Settings and design

A retrospective cross sectional study was conducted on 398 patients who underwent MCUG from January 2015 to January 2016. The median age was 24 months and here were 272 males and 126 females, with 102 of them being infants.

Methods and material

Urine microscopy or culture was checked before performing the MCUG and only those without UTI were included in the study. Those with symptomatic and culture proven UTI within 2 weeks post-MCUG were defined as having post-procedure UTI (ppUTI). The incidence of post-procedure UTI was calculated and was compared with other studies.

Statistical analysis used

Data was entered in Microsoft Excel and analyzed using SPSS. Categorical variables were summarized as percentage and continuous variables were summarized as mean with standard deviation.

Results

Symptomatic procedure induced UTI were seen in only 3 of the 398 (0.75%) patients with a 95% CI of 0.02–0.008.

Conclusions

Strict adherence to aseptic precautions while performing an MCUG and prompt initiation of appropriate therapy when indicated may help obviate the need for routine administration of pre procedure antibiotics before MCUG.

Antibiotics for performing voiding cystourethrogram: a randomised control trial

OBJECTIVE

To assess whether antibiotic reduces voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG)-associated urinary tract infection (UTI).

DESIGN

Open-labelled randomised controlled trial.

SETTING

Tertiary paediatric nephrology centre.

PATIENTS

120 children (age 2 months-5 years) undergoing VCUG.

INTERVENTIONS

Children were randomised into group A (antibiotic, n=72) or group B (no antibiotic, n=48) in 3:2 ratio. Group A received oral antibiotic (cephalexin if <6 months or co-trimoxazole if >6 months old) a day prior to VCUG and continued for 1 day post VCUG.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The main outcome measure is incidence of VCUG-associated UTI. Urine was checked on day 3 after VCUG and UTI was defined as significant growth of a single organism in a symptomatic child.

RESULTS

The median age was 8 months (IQR 13 months) with 68% male. Indication for undertaking VCUG was history of UTI (first UTI in infancy=43, recurrent UTI=49) and congenital anomaly of kidney and urinary tract without any UTI (n=28). Post-VCUG UTI was significantly higher among group B in comparison to group A (17% (n=8) vs 1.4% (n=1); p=0.01, OR=14.2 (95% CI 1.7 to 117)). Multivariate binary logistic regression analysis found an abnormal pre-VCUG ultrasound scan to be a significant independent risk factor for post-VCUG UTI (p=0.02, OR=9.51, 95% CI 1.43 to 63.4). The number needed to treat with antibiotic to prevent one post-VCUG UTI was 6.5, which reduced to 4 if only the group with abnormal pre-VCUG ultrasound scan was included.

CONCLUSIONS

Antibiotic significantly reduces post-VCUG-acquired UTI especially in those with abnormal ultrasound scans.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

Clinical Trial Registry of India: CTRI/2017/03/00824.

Urinary tract infections in infants and children: Diagnosis and management

Recent studies have resulted in major changes in the management of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in children. The present statement focuses on the diagnosis and management of infants and children >2 months of age with an acute UTI and no known underlying urinary tract pathology or risk factors for a neurogenic bladder. UTI should be ruled out in preverbal children with unexplained fever and in older children with symptoms suggestive of UTI (dysuria, urinary frequency, hematuria, abdominal pain, back pain or new daytime incontinence). A midstream urine sample should be collected for urinalysis and culture in toilet-trained children; others should have urine collected by catheter or by suprapubic aspirate. UTI is unlikely if the urinalysis is completely normal. A bagged urine sample may be used for urinalysis but should not be used for urine culture. Antibiotic treatment for seven to 10 days is recommended for febrile UTI. Oral antibiotics may be offered as initial treatment when the child is not seriously ill and is likely to receive and tolerate every dose. Children <2 years of age should be investigated after their first febrile UTI with a renal/bladder ultrasound to identify any significant renal abnormalities. A voiding cystourethrogram is not required for children with a first UTI unless the renal/bladder ultrasound reveals findings suggestive of vesicoureteral reflux, selected renal anomalies or obstructive uropathy.