How Common Is Acute Bacterial Meningitis in Neonates with Urinary Tract Infection?

Of 236 neonates with febrile UTI, none had confirmed ABM; however, two had bloody cerebrospinal fluid with probable ABM.

Whether to obtain cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to assess the presence of acute bacterial meningitis (ABM) in neonates with febrile urinary tract infection (UTI) remains controversial.

To determine the frequency of concurrent ABM in neonates with febrile UTI, investigators conducted a retrospective, cross-sectional study of 236 children (mean age, 18.6 days; 79% male) with fever (>38°C), UTI in urine obtained by catheterization or suprapubic bladder tap, and CSF obtained by lumbar puncture. Babies had a mean 2 lumbar puncture attempts to obtain CSF; 14 were pretreated with antibiotics prior to lumbar puncture.

Results were as follows:

Escherichia coli was the most common pathogen isolated in urine and blood cultures.
23 neonates (9.7%) had bacterem…

Reviewing Author

F. Bruder Stapleton, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardCareer Physician

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