Urinary tract infection caused by bacterial pathogens of the respiratory tract in children.

Abstract

BACKGROUND Urinary tract infection (UTI) caused by bacterial pathogens of the respiratory tract such as Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Moraxella catarrhalis is rare and little is known about their clinical features and potential host risk factors. The aim of this study is to reveal their clinical characteristics. METHODS We conducted a retrospective descriptive study on pediatric UTI due to S. pneumoniae, Haemophilus spp., or M. catarrhalis at a tertiary-care pediatric hospital. Pediatric patients with diagnosed UTI between 2002 and 2020 were included. Patient demographics, laboratory data, and microbiological findings were extracted from their electronic medical records and the infectious disease surveillance system. RESULTS Among 46,332 urine samples, 76 bacteriuria (0.16%) and 22 UTI (0.05%) events due to the targeted species were identified (S. pneumoniae [n=7] and Haemophilus spp. [n=15]). Of the patients, 17 (85%) had underlying urinary tract abnormalities and 13 (60%) had vesicocutaneous fistula. All the UTI episodes caused by S. pneumoniae and Haemophilus spp. occurred after cystostomy. All the patients had satisfactory clinical outcomes. CONCLUSIONS Although S. pneumoniae and Haemophilus spp. are rare causes of UTI in children, they could be the true causative bacteria of UTI, particularly in the patients with urinary tract abnormalities and vesicocutaneous fistula. Thus, clinicians should not ignore these pathogens as contaminations in special population.