Urinary Tract Infection in Children after Voiding Cystourethrogram

Abstract

Objective: Voiding cystourethrogram is a minimally invasive diagnostic procedure used to visualize the urinary tract and bladder and diagnose vesicoureteral reflux disease. We aim to determine the likelihood of developing a UTI after the VCUG.

Study design: A total sample of 125 children from the Jordan University Hospital who underwent 191 voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG) were retrospectively studied between 2002 and 2018, ages four days till 13 years old. Urine analysis and Culture were sent from selected patients, for post-VCUG-UTI.

Methodology: Electronic records were retrospectively reviewed in 125 pediatric patients at Jordan University Hospital.

Results: 60.7% of VCUG’s were abnormal (i.e., vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) or hydronephrosis). 5.24% had a negative urine analysis, 4.71% had a negative culture; 6.28% had a positive urine analysis, post-procedural urinary tract infection (ppUTI) was documented in 5.76% of the patients. The most common organism was Escherichia coli.

Conclusions: Voiding cystourethrogram is a significant risk factor for urinary tract infection in the pediatric age group; it is still debated whether ascending infection due to catheterization or the presence of a urinary tract abnormality is the cause of infection. Further studies on a larger scale must be considered to study other contributing factors.