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Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the distribution and changes in the antibiotic susceptibilities of uropathogens isolated from adults with community-acquired urinary tract infections (CA-UTIs) in Crete, Greece, over a 6-year period., Methods: This study was performed with isolates from outpatients with UTIs, collected between 2005 and 2010. Isolates were identified by standard methods and antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the disk diffusion method and the VITEK2 is an automated system used for identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing of microorganisms (BioMerieux). To identify changes in susceptibility patterns, we compared results of the period 2005-2007 to those of the period 2008-2010. We also compared the antibiotic susceptibilities of isolates between males and females., Results: A total of 4011 community-acquired uropathogens were isolated during the period of 2005-2010. Escherichia coli was the most common organism and responsible for 68.9% of CA-UTIs, followed by Proteus mirabilis (6.8%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (6.4%) and enterococci (6%). A significant increase in resistance of E coli isolates was noted for β-lactams, monobactams, aminoglycosides, quinolones, and cotrimoxazole. The reverse trend was evident for nitrofurantoin. Higher resistance rates of community-acquired E coli and non-E coli Enterobacteriaceae were noted in males for ampicillin, amoxicillin plus clavulanic acid, cephalosporins, aminoglycosides, and quinolones. No significant sex differences were noted in the antibiotic susceptibility patterns of enterococci., Conclusion: There is a concerning trend for increasing resistance among E coli and non-E coli Enterobacteriaceae responsible for CA-UTIs in Crete in recent years likely due to the inappropriate use of broad spectrum antibiotics, as a substitute for precise diagnostics and/or to increase the chances of therapeutic success., (Copyright © 2012. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Controversy exists regarding the type and/or sequence of imaging studies needed during the first febrile urinary tract infection (UTI) in young children. Several investigators have claimed that because acute-phase Tc-99m dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) renal-scan results are abnormal in the presence of dilating vesicoureteral reflux, a normal DMSA-scan result makes voiding cystourethrography (VCUG) unnecessary in the primary examination of infants with UTI. To evaluate the accuracy of acute-phase DMSA scanning in identifying dilating (grades III through V) vesicoureteral reflux documented by VCUG in children with a first febrile UTI, we performed a meta-analysis of the accuracy of diagnostic tests as reported from relevant studies identified through the PubMed and Scopus databases. Patient-based and renal unit-based analyses were performed. Overall, 13 cohort studies were identified. Nine studies involved patients younger than 2 years, 3 involved children aged 16 years or younger, and 1 involved exclusively neonates. Girls constituted 22% to 85% of the involved children. Pooled (95% confidence intervals) sensitivity and specificity rates of DMSA scanning were 79% and 53%, respectively, for the patient-based analysis (8 studies) and 60% and 65% for the renal unit-based analysis (5 studies). The respective areas under the hierarchical summary receiver operating curves were 0.71 and 0.67. Marked statistical heterogeneity was observed in both analyses, as indicated by I(2) test values of 91% and 87%, respectively. Acute-phase DMSA renal scanning cannot be recommended as replacement for VCUG in the evaluation of young children with a first febrile UTI., (Copyright © 2011 by the American Academy of Pediatrics.)

The aim of this study was to investigate the bacterial pathogens involved in pediatric urinary tract infections (UTIs) in a tertiary general hospital located in the Thrace province of Northern Greece over a 69-month period (1/2003 to 9/2008), and their antibiotic susceptibility patterns. A total of 622 episodes of UTIs in 508 children were identified. Median age of all children was 16 months (range 1 month to 14 years). Boys were significantly younger than girls (9 months vs. 24 months). Escherichia coli was the most common uropathogen and responsible for 69.1% of UTIs. Approximately half of E. coli isolates were resistant to ampicillin and 20.5% to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX). E. coli resistance to second-generation and third-generation cephalosporins was <4%, to aminoglycosides <8%, and to nitrofurantoin 4.4%. Pediatric E. coli urine isolates were significantly more resistant to ampicillin and ticarcillin and more sensitive to quinolones compared to adult E. coli uropathogens identified in the same hospital. E. coli resistance to ampicillin and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid was significantly higher in boys 12-23 months-old compared to girls of the same age. In conclusion, nitrofurantoin is a very good choice for chemoprophylaxis. Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, second-generation cephalosporins, and TMP/SMX are appropriate choices for oral empirical treatment of UTIs. Parenteral aminoglycosides and second and third-generation cephalosporins are excellent treatment choices for inpatient therapy. Finally, sex and age are additional factors that should be taken into account when choosing empirical therapy for children with UTIs.

Objective: To determine by meta-analysis whether serum procalcitonin (PCT) is a useful marker of acute renal parenchymal involvement (RPI) in children with culture-proven urinary tract infection (UTI), as diagnosed by acute-phase DMSA (Tc-99m dimercaptosuccinic acid) renal scintigraphy., Study Design: We searched PubMed and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for prospective studies involving children with culture-proven UTIs. Additional eligibility criteria were measurement of serum PCT at presentation and performance of DMSA scintigraphy within 14 days., Results: Overall, 10 studies eligible for inclusion, involving a total of 627 children, were identified. Half of these studies evaluated children with a first episode of UTI; 8 involved children with febrile UTIs. Using a cutoff value of 0.5 to 0.6 ng/mL, the pooled diagnostic odds ratio of serum PCT for UTI with RPI was 14.25 (95% confidence interval, 4.70 to 43.23). High statistical between-study heterogeneity that could mainly be attributed to 2 studies was observed. The remaining 8 studies uniformly favored PCT use., Conclusions: In children with culture-proven UTI, a serum PCT value >0.5 ng/mL predicts reasonably well the presence of RPI, as evidenced by DMSA scintigraphy. PCT may aid in the identification of children with UTI, necessitating more intense evaluation and management.

Objectives: To compare the reliability of procalcitonin (PCT) with conventional laboratory parameters in predicting for renal parenchymal inflammation (RPI)., Methods: The study cohort consisted of 57 children who were admitted for a first-episode urinary tract infection. All patients underwent measurement of the leukocyte count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), and serum PCT. RPI was evaluated by technetium-99m dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) scintigraphy within 7 days of admission. If the first DMSA findings were abnormal, another analysis was performed 6 months later. The cutoff points for ESR, CRP, and PCT were established by comparing the areas under their receiver operating characteristic curves. Statistical analysis was performed using 1-way analysis of variance., Results: Of the 57 children, 27 were diagnosed with RPI on the basis of positive DMSA results. The ESR, CRP, and PCT levels were significantly greater (P < .001) in the patients with RPI than in those without RPI. In contrast, the leukocyte count was the same in both groups (P > .05). PCT was a more sensitive and specific marker for differentiating upper and lower urinary tract infection than ESR and CRP. Persistent lesions at the site of previous RPI were found in 12 patients in the follow-up DMSA analysis, with total regression evident in the remaining 15. The PCT levels were significantly greater in those with persistent renal lesions than in those with total regression (P = .005)., Conclusions: Serum PCT is a more reliable biologic marker than the ESR, CRP, or leukocyte count for the early prediction of RPI in children with a first episode of urinary tract infection. In addition, the greater the elevation of PCT at admission, the more positive the correlation for subsequent permanent renal damage.

In order to establish the most reliable marker for distinguishing urinary tract infections (UTI) with and without renal parenchymal involvement (RPI), we recorded the clinical features and admission leukocyte count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), and serum procalcitonin (PCT) in 57 children (including 43 girls) aged 2-108 months admitted with a first episode of UTI. RPI was evaluated by Tc-99m dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) scintigraphy within 7 days of admission. To establish cut-off points for ESR, CRP, and PCT, we used receiver operating characteristics curves and compared the area under the curve for ESR, CRP, and PCT. Twenty-seven children were diagnosed as having RPI based on positive renal scintigraphy. A body temperature of >38 degrees C, a history of diarrhea, and poor oral intake were more common in patients with RPI. ESR, CRP, and PCT, but not leukocyte count, were significantly higher in patients with RPI (P < 0.001). PCT was more sensitive and specific for the diagnosis of upper versus lower UTI than ESR and CRP. Using a cut-off value of 0.85 ng/ml, PCT had the best performance, with sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of 89%, 97%, 96%, and 91% respectively. Serum PCT is a better marker than ESR, CRP, and leukocyte count for the early prediction of RPI in children with a first episode of UTI.

The case of a mentally ill man inadvertently treated with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) for 2 y is presented. Quantitative stool cultures revealed a substantially suppressed Gram-negative aerobic flora, while Enterococcus spp. and anaerobes were not affected. Yeasts were moderately increased. TMP-SMX represents an attractive antimicrobial for immunocompromized patients who need the integrity of their intestinal anaerobic flora for colonization resistance.