Incidence and Risk Factors for Neonatal Jaundice among Neonates with Urinary Tract Infection in Abha, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background: Hyperbilirubinemia is one of the presenting signs of bacterial infection in newborns, and the association of neonatal jaundice with urinary tract infection (UTI) has been particularly emphasized. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of UTI in asymptomatic jaundiced neonates younger than 4 weeks old. Method: A cross sectional survey has been conducted at Newborn Unit of Maternity & Pediatrics Hospital – Abha from January 2016 to August 2016. A total of 15 patients have been included in the study, who were diagnosed with hyperbilirubinemia due to urinary tract infection (UTI) after exclusion of unrelated criteria. Conclusion: It could be concluded that UTI should be routinely investigated in early (⩽10 days) idiopathic neonatal jaundice in which all other etiologic factors of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia are ruled out, and the presence of UTI should be considered in case of a poor phototherapy response in cases receiving phototherapy.