Nice Uti
Nice Uti
Nice Uti
NICE 2007
Contents
Introduction.................................................................................................................................. Child-centred care ....................................................................................................................... Key priorities for implementation ................................................................................................. 1 Guidance ..................................................................................................................................
1.1 Diagnosis.........................................................................................................................................
4 5 6 9
9
1.2 Acute management ......................................................................................................................... 15 1.3 Imaging tests ................................................................................................................................... 17 1.4 Surgical intervention........................................................................................................................ 21 1.5 Follow-up......................................................................................................................................... 21 1.6 Information and advice for children, young people and parents or carers ...................................... 22
2 Notes on the scope of the guidance ......................................................................................... 24 3 Implementation in the NHS ...................................................................................................... 25 4 Research recommendations .................................................................................................... 26
4.1 Diagnosis......................................................................................................................................... 26 4.2 Antibiotic prophylaxis ...................................................................................................................... 26 4.3 Surgical intervention........................................................................................................................ 27 4.4 Long-term risk ................................................................................................................................. 27
6 Related NICE guidance ............................................................................................................ 30 7 Updating the guideline.............................................................................................................. 31 Appendix A: The Guideline Development Group ........................................................................ 32
National Collaborating Centre for Women's and Children's Health staff ............................................... 33 Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................................... 33
Page 2 of 36
Page 3 of 36
Introduction
In the past 3050 years, the natural history of urinary tract infection (UTI) in children has changed as a result of the introduction of antibiotics and improvements in healthcare. This change has contributed to uncertainty about the most appropriate and effective way to manage UTI in children, and whether or not investigations and follow-up are justified. UTI is a common bacterial infection causing illness in infants and children. It may be difficult to recognise UTI in children because the presenting symptoms and signs are non-specific, particularly in infants and children younger than 3 years. Collecting urine and interpreting results are not easy in this age group, so it may not always be possible to unequivocally confirm the diagnosis. Current management, which includes imaging, prophylaxis and prolonged follow-up, has placed a heavy burden on NHS primary and secondary care resources. It is costly, based on limited evidence and is unpleasant for children and distressing for their parents or carers. The aim of this guideline is to achieve more consistent clinical practice, based on accurate diagnosis and effective management.
Page 4 of 36
Child-centred care
This guideline offers best practice advice on the care of infants, children and young people younger than 16 years with UTI. Treatment and care should take into account children's needs and preferences, as well as those of their parents or carers. Children with UTI should have the opportunity to make informed decisions about their care and treatment in partnership with their healthcare professionals, but this depends on their age and capacity to make decisions. It is good practice for healthcare professionals to involve children and their parents or carers in the decision-making process. Where a child is not old enough or does not have the capacity to make decisions, healthcare professionals should follow the Department of Health's advice on consent and the code of practice that accompanies the Mental Capacity Act. In Wales, healthcare professionals should follow advice on consent from the Welsh Government. If the patient is under 16, healthcare professionals should follow the guidelines in the Department of Health's Seeking consent: working with children. Good communication between healthcare professionals and children and their parents or carers is essential. It should be supported by evidence-based written information tailored to the person's needs. Treatment and care, and the information given about this, should be culturally appropriate. It should also be accessible to people with additional needs such as physical, sensory or learning disabilities, and to people who do not speak or read English. Parents or carers should have the opportunity to be involved in decisions about their child's care and treatment. Parents or carers also need to give consent to their child's care. Parents or carers should also be given the information and support they need.
Page 5 of 36
History and examination on confirmed UTI The following risk factors for UTI and serious underlying pathology should be recorded: poor urine flow history suggesting previous UTI or confirmed previous UTI recurrent fever of uncertain origin
Page 6 of 36
antenatally-diagnosed renal abnormality family history of vesicoureteric reflux (VUR) or renal disease constipation dysfunctional voiding enlarged bladder abdominal mass evidence of spinal lesion poor growth high blood pressure. Acute management Infants younger than 3 months with a possible UTI should be referred immediately to the care of a paediatric specialist. Treatment should be with parenteral antibiotics in line with Feverish illness in children(NICE clinical guideline 47). For infants and children 3 months or older with acute pyelonephritis/upper urinary tract infection: consider referral to a paediatric specialist treat with oral antibiotics for 710 days. The use of an oral antibiotic with low resistance patterns is recommended, for example cephalosporin or co-amoxiclav if oral antibiotics cannot be used, treat with an intravenous (IV) antibiotic agent such as cefotaxime or ceftriaxone for 24 days followed by oral antibiotics for a total duration of 10 days. For infants and children 3 months or older with cystitis/lower urinary tract infection: treat with oral antibiotics for 3 days. The choice of antibiotics should be directed by locally developed multidisciplinary guidance. Trimethoprim, nitrofurantoin, cephalosporin or amoxicillin may be suitable
Page 7 of 36
the parents or carers should be advised to bring the infant or child for reassessment if the infant or child is still unwell after 2448 hours. If an alternative diagnosis is not made, a urine sample should be sent for culture to identify the presence of bacteria and determine antibiotic sensitivity if urine culture has not already been carried out. Antibiotic prophylaxis Antibiotic prophylaxis should not be routinely recommended in infants and children following first-time UTI. Imaging tests Infants and children who have had a UTI should be imaged as outlined in tables 6, 7 and 8.
[ 1]
Assess the risk of serious illness in line with Feverish illness in children (NICE clinical guideline 47) to ensure appropriate urine tests and interpretation, both of which depend on the child's age and risk of serious illness.
Page 8 of 36
1 Guidance
The following guidance is based on the best available evidence. The full guideline gives details of the methods and the evidence used to develop the guidance (see section 5 for details).
1.1 Diagnosis
1.1.1 Symptoms and signs
1.1.1.1 Infants and children presenting with unexplained fever of 38C or higher should have a urine sample tested after 24 hours at the latest. 1.1.1.2 Infants and children with an alternative site of infection should not have a urine sample tested. When infants and children with an alternative site of infection remain unwell, urine testing should be considered after 24 hours at the latest. 1.1.1.3 Infants and children with symptoms and signs suggestive of urinary tract infection (UTI) should have a urine sample tested for infection. Table 1 is a guide to the symptoms and signs that infants and children present with. Table 1 Presenting symptoms and signs in infants and children with UTI Age group Symptoms and signs Most common ------------------> Least common Infants younger than 3 months Fever Vomiting Lethargy Irritability Poor feeding Failure to thrive Abdominal pain Jaundice Haematuria Offensive urine
Page 9 of 36
Preverbal Fever
Verbal
Frequency Dysfunctional voiding Dysuria Changes to continence Abdominal pain Loin tenderness
Page 10 of 36
Before SPA is attempted, ultrasound guidance should be used to demonstrate the presence of urine in the bladder. 1.1.3.2 In an infant or child with a high risk of serious illness it is highly preferable that a urine sample is obtained; however, treatment should not be delayed if a urine sample is unobtainable.
As with all diagnostic tests there will be a small number of false negative results; therefore clinicians should use clinical criteria for their decisions in cases where urine testing does not support the findings. Table 2 Urine-testing strategy for infants younger than 3 months All infants younger than 3 months with suspected UTI (see table 1) should be referred to paediatric specialist care and a urine sample should be sent for urgent microscopy and culture. These infants should be managed in accordance with the recommendations for this age group in Feverish illness in children (NICE clinical guideline 47). Table 3 Urine-testing strategies for infants and children 3 months or older but younger than 3 years Urgent microscopy and culture is the preferred method for diagnosing UTI in this age group; this should be used where possible.
Page 11 of 36
If the infant or child has specific urinary symptoms If the symptoms are nonspecific to UTI
Urgent microscopy and culture should be arranged and antibiotic treatment should be started. When urgent microscopy is not available, a urine sample should be sent for microscopy and culture, and antibiotic treatment should be started.
For an infant or child with a high risk of serious illness: the infant or child should be urgently referred to a paediatric specialist where a urine sample should be sent for urgent microscopy and culture. Such infants and children should be managed in line with Feverish illness in children (NICE clinical guideline 47). For an infant or child with an intermediate risk of serious illness: if the situation demands, the infant or child may be referred urgently to a paediatric specialist. For infants and children who do not require paediatric specialist referral, urgent microscopy and culture should be arranged. Antibiotic treatment should be started if microscopy is positive (see table 5). When urgent microscopy is not available, dipstick testing may act as a substitute. The presence of nitrites suggests the possibility of infection and antibiotic treatment should be started (see table 4). In all cases, a urine sample should be sent for microscopy and culture. For an infant or child with a low risk of serious illness: microscopy and culture should be arranged. Antibiotic treatment should only be started if microscopy or culture is positive.
Table 4 Urine-testing strategies for children 3 years or older Dipstick testing for leukocyte esterase and nitrite is diagnostically as useful as microscopy and culture, and can safely be used. If both leukocyte esterase and nitrite are positive The child should be regarded as having UTI and antibiotic treatment should be started. If a child has a high or intermediate risk of serious illness and/or a past history of previous UTI, a urine sample should be sent for culture.
Page 12 of 36
If leukocyte esterase is negative and nitrite is positive If leukocyte esterase is positive and nitrite is negative
Antibiotic treatment should be started if the urine test was carried out on a fresh sample of urine. A urine sample should be sent for culture. Subsequent management will depend upon the result of urine culture.
A urine sample should be sent for microscopy and culture. Antibiotic treatment for UTI should not be started unless there is good clinical evidence of UTI (for example, obvious urinary symptoms). Leukocyte esterase may be indicative of an infection outside the urinary tract which may need to be managed differently.
If both The child should not be regarded as having UTI. Antibiotic treatment for UTI leukocyte should not be started, and a urine sample should not be sent for culture. esterase Other causes of illness should be explored. and nitrite are negative Table 5 Guidance on the interpretation of microscopy results Microscopy results Bacteriuria positive Bacteriuria negative Pyuria positive Pyuria negative
The infant or child should be regarded as having UTI Antibiotic treatment should be started if clinically UTI
The infant or child should be regarded as having UTI The infant or child should be regarded as not having UTI
Page 13 of 36
in infants and children with a single positive result for leukocyte esterase or nitrite in infants and children with recurrent UTI in infants and children with an infection that does not respond to treatment within 2448 hours, if no sample has already been sent when clinical symptoms and dipstick tests do not correlate.
Page 14 of 36
1.1.8 Clinical differentiation between acute pyelonephritis/upper urinary tract infection and cystitis/lower urinary tract infection
1.1.8.1 Infants and children who have bacteriuria and fever of 38C or higher should be considered to have acute pyelonephritis/upper urinary tract infection. Infants and children presenting with fever lower than 38C with loin pain/tenderness and bacteriuria should also be considered to haveacute pyelonephritis/upper urinary tract infection. All other infants and children who have bacteriuria but no systemic symptoms or signs should be considered to have cystitis/lower urinary tract infection.
Page 15 of 36
1.2.1.2 Infants younger than 3 months with a possible UTI should be referred immediately to the care of a paediatric specialist. Treatment should be with parenteral antibiotics in line with Feverish illness in children (NICE clinical guideline 47). 1.2.1.3 For infants and children 3 months or older with acute pyelonephritis/upper urinary tract infection: consider referral to a paediatric specialist treat with oral antibiotics for 710 days. The use of an oral antibiotic with low resistance patterns is recommended, for example cephalosporin or co-amoxiclav if oral antibiotics cannot be used, treat with an intravenous (IV) antibiotic agent such as cefotaxime or ceftriaxone for 24 days followed by oral antibiotics for a total duration of 10 days. 1.2.1.4 For infants and children 3 months or older with cystitis/lower urinary tract infection: treat with oral antibiotics for 3 days. The choice of antibiotics should be directed by locally developed multidisciplinary guidance. Trimethoprim, nitrofurantoin, cephalosporin or amoxicillin may be suitable. the parents or carers should be advised to bring the infant or child for reassessment if the infant or child is still unwell after 2448 hours. If an alternative diagnosis is not made, a urine sample should be sent for culture to identify the presence of bacteria and determine antibiotic sensitivity if urine culture has not already been carried out. 1.2.1.5 For infants and children who receive aminoglycosides (gentamicin or amikacin), once daily dosing is recommended. 1.2.1.6 If parenteral treatment is required and IV treatment is not possible, intramuscular treatment should be considered. 1.2.1.7 If an infant or child is receiving prophylactic medication and develops an infection, treatment should be with a different antibiotic, not a higher dose of the same antibiotic.
Page 16 of 36
1.2.1.8 Asymptomatic bacteriuria in infants and children should not be treated with antibiotics. 1.2.1.9 Laboratories should monitor resistance patterns of urinary pathogens and make this information routinely available to prescribers.
Page 17 of 36
1.3.1.2 For infants younger than 6 months with first-time UTI that responds to treatment, ultrasound should be carried out within 6 weeks of the UTI, as outlined in table 6. 1.3.1.3 For infants and children aged 6 months and older with first-time UTI that responds to treatment, routine ultrasound is not recommended unless the infant or child has atypical UTI, as outlined in tables 7 and 8. 1.3.1.4 Infants and children who have had a lower urinary tract infection should undergo ultrasound (within 6 weeks) only if they are younger than 6 months or have had recurrent infections. 1.3.1.5 A DMSA scan 46 months following the acute infection should be used to detect renal parenchymal defects, as outlined in tables 6, 7 and 8. 1.3.1.6 If the infant or child has a subsequent UTI while awaiting DMSA, the timing of the DMSA should be reviewed and consideration given to doing it sooner. 1.3.1.7 Routine imaging to identify VUR is not recommended for infants and children who have had a UTI, except in specific circumstances, as outlined in tables 6, 7 and 8. 1.3.1.8 When a micturating cystourethrogram (MCUG) is performed, prophylactic antibiotics should be given orally for 3 days with MCUG taking place on the second day. 1.3.1.9 Infants and children who have had a UTI should be imaged as outlined in tables 6, 7 and 8. Table 6 Recommended imaging schedule for infants younger than 6 months Test Responds well to treatment within 48 hours No Atypical UTIa Yesc Recurrent UTI a Yes
Page 18 of 36
Ultrasound within 6 weeks DMSA 46 months following the acute infection MCUG
a b c
Yesb No
No Yes
No Yes
No
Yes
Yes
In an infant or child with a non-E. coli-UTI, responding well to antibiotics and with no other features of atypical infection, the ultrasound can be requested on a non-urgent basis to take place within 6 weeks Table 7 Recommended imaging schedule for infants and children 6 months or older but younger than 3 years Test Responds well to treatment within 48 hours No Atypical UTIa Yes c Recurrent UTI a No
Ultrasound during the acute infection Ultrasound within 6 weeks DMSA 46 months following the acute infection MCUG
No No
No Yes Nob
No
Page 19 of 36
a b
While MCUG should not be performed routinely it should be considered if the following features are present: dilatation on ultrasound poor urine flow non-E. coli-infection family history of VUR.
c
In an infant or child with a non-E. coli-UTI, responding well to antibiotics and with no other features of atypical infection, the ultrasound can be requested on a non-urgent basis to take place within 6 weeks Table 8 Recommended imaging schedule for children 3 years or older Test Responds well to treatment within 48 hours No Atypical UTI a Yesb c Recurrent UTI a No Yesb Yes
Ultrasound during the acute infection Ultrasound within 6 weeks DMSA 46 months following the acute infection MCUG
a b
No No
No No
No
No
No
Ultrasound in toilet-trained children should be performed with a full bladder with an estimate of bladder volume before and after micturition.
c
In a child with a non-E. coli-UTI, responding well to antibiotics and with no other features of atypical infection, the ultrasound can be requested on a non-urgent basis to take place within 6 weeks
Page 20 of 36
Box 1 Definitions of atypical and recurrent UTI Atypical UTI includes: seriously ill (for more information refer to Feverish illness in children [NICE clinical guideline 47]) poor urine flow abdominal or bladder mass raised creatinine septicaemia failure to respond to treatment with suitable antibiotics within 48 hours infection with non-E. coli organisms. Recurrent UTI: two or more episodes of UTI with acute pyelonephritis/upper urinary tract infection, or one episode of UTI with acute pyelonephritis/upper urinary tract infection plus one or more episode of UTI with cystitis/lower urinary tract infection, or three or more episodes of UTI with cystitis/lower urinary tract infection.
1.5 Follow-up
1.5.1.1 Infants and children who do not undergo imaging investigations should not routinely be followed up. 1.5.1.2 The way in which the results of imaging will be communicated should be agreed with the parents or carers or the young person as appropriate.
Page 21 of 36
1.5.1.3 When results are normal, a follow-up outpatient appointment is not routinely required. Parents or carers should be informed of the results of all the investigations in writing. 1.5.1.4 Infants and children who have recurrent UTI or abnormal imaging results should be assessed by a paediatric specialist. 1.5.1.5 Assessment of infants and children with renal parenchymal defects should include height, weight, blood pressure and routine testing for proteinuria. 1.5.1.6 Infants and children with a minor, unilateral renal parenchymal defect do not need long-term follow-up unless they have recurrent UTI or family history or lifestyle risk factors for hypertension. 1.5.1.7 Infants and children who have bilateral renal abnormalities, impaired kidney function, raised blood pressure and/or proteinuria should receive monitoring and appropriate management by a paediatric nephrologist to slow the progression of chronic kidney disease. 1.5.1.8 Infants and children who are asymptomatic following an episode of UTI should not routinely have their urine re-tested for infection. 1.5.1.9 Asymptomatic bacteriuria is not an indication for follow-up.
1.6 Information and advice for children, young people and parents or carers
1.6.1.1 Healthcare professionals should ensure that when a child or young person has been identified as having a suspected UTI, they and their parents or carers as appropriate are given information about the need for treatment, the importance of completing any course of treatment and advice about prevention and possible long-term management. 1.6.1.2 Healthcare professionals should ensure that children and young people, and their parents or carers as appropriate, are aware of the possibility of a UTI
Page 22 of 36
recurring and understand the need for vigilance and to seek prompt treatment from a healthcare professional for any suspected reinfection. 1.6.1.3 Healthcare professionals should offer children and young people and/or their parents or carers appropriate advice and information on: prompt recognition of symptoms urine collection, storage and testing appropriate treatment options prevention the nature of and reason for any urinary tract investigation prognosis reasons and arrangements for long-term management if required.
[ 2]
Assess the risk of serious illness in line with Feverish illness in children (NICE clinical guideline 47) to ensure appropriate urine tests and interpretation, both of which depend on the child's age and risk of serious illness.
Page 23 of 36
Page 24 of 36
Page 25 of 36
4 Research recommendations
The Guideline Development Group has made the following recommendations for research, based on its review of evidence, to improve NICE guidance and patient care in the future. The Guideline Development Group's full set of research recommendations is detailed in the full guideline (see section 5).
4.1 Diagnosis
Further investigation of leukocyte esterase and nitrite dipstick tests alone and in combination, stratified by age and method of urine collection, is required to determine their accuracy in diagnosing UTI. Why this is important Traditionally, the diagnosis of UTI has been dependent on microscopy and culture over 2448 hours. Microscopy can be carried out immediately, but results are not always reported until culture is available. Microscopy at the bedside is effective but requires skills that are not widely available and requires quality assurance. This means that infants and children with distressing symptoms have often been left untreated for 23 days while awaiting treatment. Dipsticks for nitrite and leukocyte esterase have been shown to be as effective as microscopy and much easier to use. There is a risk of missing a proportion of cases of acute UTI in infants and children younger than 3 years when using dipsticks. This is because frequent bladder emptying leads to a lack of urinary nitrate. Contaminated urine is common in non-invasive samples collected from infants and children who are not toilet trained. The effect of this on microscopy and dipstick needs to be evaluated.
Page 26 of 36
A high proportion of girls and a minority of boys with UTI develop further infections which may be acutely distressing, associated with systemic illness and possible subsequent renal damage. Renal damage is most likely in children with high grade VUR and this is the reason for some of the imaging tests previously recommended. Prophylactic antibiotics have been used on the assumption that they prevent these problems. However, chronic antibiotic use has a number of disadvantages for the individual as well as the population as a whole. Formal evaluation of whether prophylactic antibiotics can prevent the distressing symptoms and scarring associated with recurrent UTI would affect not only the use of antibiotics, but also the imaging investigations recommended.
Page 27 of 36
complications in pregnancy and progression to established renal failure (ERF). These risks are likely to be greater in children with bilateral renal parenchymal defects. However, the frequency and magnitude of these risks for children with unilateral and bilateral renal damage are unclear. Knowledge of the risk of serious or progressive complications would be useful to determine the management of children with first-time and recurrent UTIs.
Page 28 of 36
Page 29 of 36
Page 30 of 36
Page 31 of 36
Page 32 of 36
Craig Williams Consultant Microbiologist, Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Glasgow
Acknowledgements
Additional support was received from: Phil Alderson, Anna Burt, Martin Dougherty, Chia-Wen Lee, Sue Lee, Neil McIntosh, Wendy Riches, Marie Westwood, and other colleagues at the National Collaborating Centre for Women's and Children's Health.
Page 33 of 36
Page 34 of 36
Page 35 of 36
regard to promoting equality of opportunity. Nothing in this guidance should be interpreted in a way that would be inconsistent with compliance with those duties. Copyright National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence 2007. All rights reserved. NICE copyright material can be downloaded for private research and study, and may be reproduced for educational and not-for-profit purposes. No reproduction by or for commercial organisations, or for commercial purposes, is allowed without the written permission of NICE. Contact NICE National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence Level 1A, City Tower, Piccadilly Plaza, Manchester M1 4BT www.nice.org.uk [email protected] 0845 0o3 7780
Page 36 of 36