[Treatment of urinary tract infections in febrile infants: experience of outpatient intravenous antibiotic treatment].
OBJECTIVE
To describe the feasibility, effectiveness and safety of intravenous (iv) outpatient treatment in 2 to 24 month-old children with febrile urinary tract infection (UTI).


METHODS
Children presenting to the ER, between April 2003-2005, with fever and no identifiable focus who had a diagnosis of UTI were randomized to receive iv antibiotic in the hospital or in an outpatient facility. Children were started on amikacin or ceftriaxona according to physician criteria followed by antimicrobial adjustment based on urine culture result and a later switch to an oral antimicrobial. Urine cultures were performed during and after completing the antimicrobial course. Adherence and effectiveness of antimicrobial treatment and treatment-associated complications were analyzed.


RESULTS
The study included 112 patients, 58 inpatient children and 54 outpatient children, with an average age of 7.7 months. Duration of iv treatment did not differ among groups (2.8 days (SD 1.2) 2.7 +0.91 days in inpatients vs 2.9 + 1.9 days in outpatients (p = 0.22). In 100% of outpatient children and 100% of inpatient children (overall 101/101) urine cultures were negative on day 5. None of the children had a treatment-associated complication. Cost analysis yielded 73% of saving money (overall cost for inpatient treatment US 9,815 vs outpatient treatment US 2,650).


CONCLUSIONS
Outpatient iv treatment in patients between 2 and 24 months with UTI and fever was effective, safe and of lower cost.
Unidad de Hospitalización Transitoria, Sub-Dirección Médica del Niño, Complejo Hospitalario Dr. Sótero del Río, Santiago, Chile. anapena@med.puc.cl
Anamaría
A
Peña D
Tamara
T
Viviani S
Nicole
N
Le Corre P
Viera
V
Morales M
Constanza
C
Montecinos B
Cristina
C
Gajardo S
D000553:Ambulatory Care; D000583:Amikacin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002443:Ceftriaxone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous / Q000191:economics; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002443:Ceftriaxone; D000583:Amikacin