Urinary catheterization and catheter associated urinary tract infections in children

Purpose:Micturating cystourethrogram is an important technique used to visualize vesicoureteral reflux and the bladder’s anatomy. The catheters that are used during micturating cystourethrogram procedures are one of the risk factors that directly cause urinary tract infections. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of urinary catheterization in urinary tract infections. Materials and methods:102 patients (62 boys, 40 girls) who were evaluated at Celal Bayar University Hafsa Sultan Hospital Pediatric Nephrology Polyclinic for recurrent urinary tract infections and who underwent micturating cystourethrogram procedures, between July 2010and 2012 were included in the study. Urine cultures were taken from all the patients before and two days after the micturating cystourethrogram procedure. Results: Of the urine cultures taken right before the micturating cystourethrogram procedures 2.9% and 11.7% of urine cultures taken 2 days after the procedures were positive for significant bacteriuria. Gender had no significant influence (p=0.07) on catheter-associated urinary tract infection. A significant relationship was observed between catheter-associated urinary tract infection and age when the patients were divided into two groups according to their age as under and above 5 years old (p=0,01). Escherichia Coli was the major pathogen that grew on the urine cultures taken both before and after the micturating cystourethrogram procedures. Conclusion: Using the proper sterilization procedures in situations which require urinary catheterization and developing new diagnostic procedures that can replace micturating cystourethrogram which is still the gold standard in vesicoureteral reflux diagnosis would be effective in preventing catheter-associated urinary tract infection. Pam Med J 2015;8(1):31-34