How Swedish guidelines on urinary tract infections in children compare to Canadian, American and European guidelines

Acta Paediatr. 2021 Jun;110(6):1759-1771. doi: 10.1111/apa.15727. Epub 2020 Dec 31.

Abstract

Urinary tract infections (UTI) are common in children and the guidelines focus on preventing kidney damage. We compared the 2013 national Swedish guidelines on UTIs in children with the guidelines from America, Canada, UK, Spain, Italy and European urologists. This showed that urinalysis and urine cultures are endorsed by all the guidelines, but sampling techniques and bacteria levels differ. They all recommend initial oral treatment and renal ultrasound to detect major anomalies in infants. The Swedish guidelines are more liberal on antibiotic prophylaxis. CONCLUSION: Differences in diagnostic criteria, workup and accepted methods for urine sampling were noted and are discussed.

Keywords: antibiotic prophylaxis; diagnostic criteria; guidelines; urinary tract infection; vesicoureteral reflux.

MeSH terms

  • Antibiotic Prophylaxis
  • Canada
  • Child
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Italy
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • United States
  • Urinary Tract Infections* / diagnosis
  • Urinary Tract Infections* / drug therapy
  • Urinary Tract Infections* / prevention & control
  • Vesico-Ureteral Reflux*