Prevalence of Renal Anomalies Following Urinary Tract Infections in Hospitalized Infants Less Than Two Months of Age

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to determine the incidence of anatomic abnormalities following a urinary tract infection in infants < 2 months of age hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit. STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective, single center cohort study of infants < 2 months of age in the neonatal intensive care unit with a urinary tract infection and documented renal imaging. RESULTS: We identified 141 infants with urinary tract infections. The mean gestational age and birth weight were 28 weeks and 1254 g, respectively. The most commonly identified pathogen was coagulase negative Staphylococcus (28%, 44/156). A major abnormality was found on at least one imaging study for 4% (5/118) of infants. Major abnormalities were noted on 4% (5/114) of renal ultrasounds and 2% (2/82) of voiding cystourethrography examinations. CONCLUSIONS: Among infants in the neonatal intensive care unit < 2 months of age at the time of a urinary tract infection the prevalence of major anatomic abnormalities is < 5%.