The use of ultrasonography in evaluating adults with febrile urinary tract infection.
BACKGROUND
Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a common disease. Controversy exists about the role of radiological evaluation in the patient with urinary tract infection.


METHODS
From April 2001 to December 2001, patients with febrile UTI admitted to Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi were prospectively evaluated by ultrasonography. The inclusion criteria of febrile UTI was a body temperature of more than 38 degrees C with a bacterial count of 10(3) or more per mL in a freshly voided midstream or catheterized urine.


RESULTS
A total of 94 patients were evaluated and all patients recovered. Major abnormal sonograms were present in 17 (18%) of the patients. A history of urolithiasis and a duration of fever > or = 3 days after admission were statistically significant clinical parameters in predicting major abnormal sonogram. Although diabetes mellitus was not statistically significant in predicting major abnormal sonogram, diabetic patients had 2.5 times the likelihood of major structural abnormalities than nondiabetic patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Ultrasonographic study of patients with febrile UTI should be limited only to those with a duration of fever > or = 3 days and a history of urolithiasis. Ultrasonographic study should also be considered in febrile UTI patients with diabetes mellitus.
Wang
I-Kuan
IK
Division of Nephrology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Pu-tzu City, Chiayi, Taiwan.
Chang
Feng-Rong
FR
Yang
Bor-Yau
BY
Lin
Chun-Liang
CL
Huang
Chiu-Ching
CC
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011704:Pyelonephritis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019564:Unnecessary Procedures; D016482:Urinalysis; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents