Untreated asymptomatic bacteriuria in girls: I--Stability of urinary isolates.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the frequency of spontaneous changes of bacterial strains in patients with untreated asymptomatic bacteriuria.


METHODS
Retrospective analysis of samples from all patients with renal scarring and random sample of patients with normal kidneys.


METHODS
Outpatient clinic for children with urinary tract infections.


METHODS
54 Girls aged 3.3-15.5 years with untreated asymptomatic bacteriuria caused by Escherichia coli.


METHODS
None.


METHODS
Change in bacterial strain.


RESULTS
Serotyping and electrophoretic analysis of sequential bacterial isolates, representing 151 patient years of untreated asymptomatic bacteriuria. A total of 24 changes of strain were identified. Eleven were related to medical interference such as treatment of other infections with antibiotics.


CONCLUSIONS
Spontaneous changes of strain were uncommon, one change in 11.6 patient years, and thus are not a characteristic feature of the course of asymptomatic bacteriuria.
Hansson
S
S
Department of Paediatrics, Gothenburg University, East Hospital, Sweden.
Caugant
D
D
Jodal
U
U
Svanborg-Edén
C
C
D000293:Adolescent; D001437:Bacteriuria / Q000382:microbiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004592:Electrophoresis, Starch Gel; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000145:classification / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012703:Serotyping