ABSTRACT
Urinary tract infections (UTI) are the most frequent nosocomial infection in the adult, yet very few data are available concerning these infections in children. In a retrospective 1-year study in a paediatric hospital, we analysed the incidence of nosocomial UTI and the characteristics of the affected children. The incidence was of 1.97/1,000 admissions which represented 6.8% of all UTI diagnosed by the microbiology laboratory. Most cases were in surgery and neurology wards. The frequency was inversely proportional to the age, with 50% of children being less than 2 years old. Pathogens most frequently isolated were E coli (39%), Pseudomonas sp (12.1%) and Enterococcus sp (12.1%). When compared with the organisms found in all the urine cultures during the same period, two organisms were more frequently found in nosocomial urinary tract infections: Pseudomonas sp and Candida sp. Most patients presented one or more risk factors, mainly:bladder catheterisation (41.4%), prior antibiotic therapy (62%), cerebral palsy (6.9%). No bacteriema was observed. The diagnosis of nosocomial UTI must be interpreted with caution and needs close collaboration between microbiologists and paediatricians. These infections increase the cost of hospitalisation, but only exceptionally do they present with complications. Some risk factors are inherent in hospital conditions, but others can be reduced by improving hand washing or by changing catheterisation practices.