Investigation of the rate of meningitis in association with urinary tract infection in infants 90 days of age or younger

  1. Peter J Vuillermin1,2,4,*,
  2. Mike Starr2,3

Article first published online: 6 AUG 2007

DOI: 10.1111/j.1742-6723.2007.01001.x

Issue

Emergency Medicine Australasia

Emergency Medicine Australasia

Volume 19, Issue 5, pages 464–469, October 2007

Additional Information

How to Cite

Vuillermin, P. J. and Starr, M. (2007), Investigation of the rate of meningitis in association with urinary tract infection in infants 90 days of age or younger. Emergency Medicine Australasia, 19: 464–469. doi: 10.1111/j.1742-6723.2007.01001.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Murdoch Children's Research Institute,

  2. 2

    Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne,

  3. 3

    Department of General Medicine, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, and

  4. 4

    Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, Barwon Health, University of Melbourne, Geelong, Victoria, Australia

*Dr Peter J Vuillermin, Geelong Hospital, PO Box 281, Ryrie Street, Geelong, Vic. 3220, Australia. Email: peterv@barwonhealth.org.au

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 6 AUG 2007
  2. Article first published online: 6 AUG 2007
  3. Accepted 22 May 2007

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Keywords:

  • infant;
  • meningitis;
  • spinal puncture;
  • urinary tract infection

Abstract

Objective:  To test the hypothesis that urinary tract infections (UTI) in young infants are rarely associated with meningitis.

Methods:  We undertook a review of the laboratory results from 322 infants, 90 days of age or younger, with an admission or discharge diagnosis of UTI or meningitis. The study was conducted in a tertiary paediatric hospital. The primary outcome measure was the incidence of coexisting urinary tract and cerebrospinal fluid sepsis.

Results:  In total, 161 of the 322 (50%) infants with an admission or discharge diagnosis of UTI or meningitis were subsequently shown to have a culture-proven UTI. Of the children with a culture-proven UTI, 75 (47%) had cerebrospinal fluid obtained. We detected one case of probable bacterial meningitis in association with UTI.

Conclusion:  UTI is rarely associated with meningitis in infants 90 days of age or younger.

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