Early performance of voiding cystourethrogram after urinary tract infection in children.
BACKGROUND
Voiding cystourethrogram is performed 3-6 weeks after urinary tract infection. This prolongs the interval of prophylactics, reducing the likelihood of having to perform the procedure.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the yield and potential risks/benefits of early compared to late performance of VCUG after UTI.


METHODS
We conducted a prospective study of 84 previously healthy children < 5 years old admitted from October 2001 to November 2002 with first documented UTI. We then divided the 78 patients who had VCUG into two groups and compared them to a control group: group A--49 children in whom VCUG was performed within 10 days, group B--29 children in whom VCUG was performed > 10 days after UTI, and a historical control group C--82 children in whom VCUG was performed > 4 weeks following UTI.


RESULTS
VCUG was performed in 48/48 (100%), 6/35 patients (17.1%) and 34/116 patients (29.3%), and vesicoureteral reflux was demonstrated in 38.8%, 37.9% and 39% in groups A, B and C respectively. No significant difference was found between these groups in terms of incidence of VUR and severity and grading of reflux within each group. One case of UTI secondary to VCUG occurred in a patient in whom the procedure was performed 4 months after the diagnosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Performing VCUG early does not influence the detection rate, severity of the VUR, or risk of secondary infection; it shortens the period of prophylactic use and increases performance rate of VCUG, thereby minimizing the risk of failure to detect VUR. The traditional recommendation of performing VCUG 3-6 weeks after the diagnosis of UTI should be reevaluated.
Kassis
Imad
I
Infectious Diseases Unit, Meyer Children's Hospital, Rambam Medical Center and Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel. i_kassis@rambam.health.gov.il
Kovalski
Yael
Y
Magen
Daniella
D
Berkowitz
Drora
D
Zelikovic
Israel
I
D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014554:Urination; D014567:Urography; D014718:Vesico-Ureteral Reflux / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology