Newborn babies with urinary tract infectionretrospective evaluation of the last 6 years

Aim: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common infections in the neonatal period. Early diagnosis of patients may also prevent UTI-related complications in the long term. In our study, it was aimed to review the clinical and laboratory findings in infants followed up with the diagnosis of UTI in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Material and Methods: In the study, the files of infants hospitalized with the diagnosis of UTI in the NICU between January 2015 and January 2021 were analyzed retrospectively. Demographic characteristics, physical examination findings, laboratory values, imaging results, response to treatment and outpatient follow-up results of the patients were evaluated. Results: A total of 85 late preterm and term infants were included in the study. Mean gestational age of the cases was 38.4 ± 1.5, and birth weight was 3212.8 ± 538.7 grams. Of the patients, 48 (56.5%) were male and 66 (77.6%) were term. The mean age at presentation was 14.6 ± 8.8 days, and 12 (14%) infants were diagnosed with hospital-acquired UTI. The most common reason for admission was jaundice with a rate of 29.4% and fever with a rate of 25.8%. In the urine analysis of the cases, 78.8% (n=67) had pyuria, 11.8% (n=10) nitrite, and 21.2% (n=18) leukocyte esterase positivity. The most frequently grown microorganisms in urine culture were Klebsiella spp. with a rate of 12.9% (n=11). and 11.8% (n=10) were E.Coli. Hydronephrosis was found in 4.7% (n=4) of the patients in the ultrasonography (USG) performed during the antenatal period, and hydronephrosis was detected in the postnatal period in 18.8% (n=16). Voiding cystourethrography was performed in 20% (n=17) of the cases and urinary system anomaly was present in 64.7% (n=11) of them. 11.8% (n=10) dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) scintigraphy was taken of the patients and it was found that two of them had renal scar and two of them had unilateral dysplastic kidneys. Conclusion: UTI may present with nonspecific findings such as jaundice, fever, weight gain, and malnutrition in the newborn. In the presence of these findings, infants should be evaluated for UTI. USG should be performed in all infants with UTI, and further investigations should be performed if necessary. It is important that the patients are followed up with close monitoring after the treatment. Key words: Urinary tract infection, newborn, hydronephrosis, renal abnormality