Prevalence and bacterial spectrum of urinary tract infection in nephrotic syndrome: a cross sectional study from a tertiary care centre

Abstract

Background: Nephrotic syndrome is a common renal disorder in paediatric population, which predisposes to various systemic infections. Out of these UTI remains most important as it can be easily missed, if active search is not made. The present study was conducted to find out the prevalence of UTI in these children and to uncover the bacterial spectrum and their sensitivity pattern.Methods: It was a cross sectional descriptive study which included all children less than 18 years of age admitted with nephrotic syndrome. All the relevant data pertaining to history, examination and investigations were recorded in a pre-designed performa. A clean-catch midstream urine specimen was obtained in all at admission for bacterial culture besides routine investigations.Results: Among all the seventy six children of nephrotic syndrome studied, boys were affected more than the girls with a male to female ratio of 3.47:1. Their mean age at presentation was 6.4±3.74 years. Urinary tract infection was detected in twenty children (26.32%). The commonest micro-organism isolated was Escherichia coli (45%), followed by Klebsiella (20%), Proteus (20%), Staphylococcus aureus (10%) and Enterococcus (05%). Most of the micro-organisms were sensitive to fluoroquinolones and cefepime.Conclusions: About one fourth of nephrotic syndrome children have UTI at admission and relapse episode serves as an additional risk factor for it. Gram negative enteric bacilli remain the most common agent. For empirical coverage fluoroquinolones and cefepime show the best sensitivity pattern.