SENSITIVITY OF URINARY PATHOGENS TO ORAL ANTIBIOTICS IN CHILDREN 1991-1999

D. Prais, R. Straussberg, Y. Avitzur, J. Amir
Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel

Introduction: Emerging resistance to common oral antibiotics in urinary tract infections (UTI) is not unusual. The aim of this study was to assess the community-acquired UTI antibiotic susceptibility in children.

Methods: Patients with a first community-acquired UTI diagnosed by properly collected urine specimen were studied. Two different groups were evaluated: 142 patients enrolled during 1991-92 compared to 120 children enrolled during 1998-99.

Results: The pathogens recovered in the two groups were similar. In 1991-92: E-Coli 86%; Klebsiella 6%; others 8%. In 1998-99: E-Coli 82%; Klebsiella 13%;  others 5%.

Antibiotic Sensitivity

 

E-Coli

Klebsiella

Total

 

1991

1999

1991

1999

1991

1999

Ampicillin

37%

32%

1%

7%

33%

30%

Amoxi-Clavulonate

N.D.

78%

N.D.

78%

N.D.

76%

Cephalexin

90%

64%

50%

71%

82%

63%

Cefuroxime

N.D.

99%

N.D.

78%

N.D.

97%

Nalidixic Acid

98%

98%

100%

93%

97%

98%

Nitrofurantoin

100%

98%

89%

73%

93%

92%

Cotrimoxazole

59%

67%

67%

78%

60%

69%

Overall resistance to antibiotics in 1999 was: ampicillin 70%; amoxi-clavulonate 24%; cephalexin 37%; cefuroxime 3%; nitrofurantoin 8%; nalidixic acid 3%; cotrimoxazole 31%.

Conclusion: Empirical treatment with cotrimoxazole or cephalexin as initial drug is inadequate in approximately one third of UTI cases. We propose cefuroxime-axetil as the drug of choice for oral empirical treatment of community-acquired UTI in children.