The prevalence of vesicoureteral reflux in infants with first urinary tract infection following circumcision is similar to infants with UTI not following circumcision.

PURPOSE

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common serious bacterial infections in early infancy. Ritual circumcision in neonates may increase the risk of UTI within 2 weeks of the procedure. The aims of this study were to assess the prevalence and risk factors for vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) among young infants with first UTI following circumcision, and compare it with the prevalence of VUR among young infants with first UTI not related to circumcision.

METHODS

In this retrospective cohort study, the medical records of all children aged 0-100 days who were diagnosed with UTI at Shaare Zedek Medical Center between 2005 and 2012 were reviewed for demographic, clinical and laboratory data and for the presence of VUR in voiding cystourethrography (VCUG).

RESULTS

Four hundred and sixty eight cases of UTI were included. Infants with post-circumcision UTI in our study were more likely to have associated bacteremia and abnormal renal function tests. VCUG was done for 166 infants (35%). There was no statistically significant difference in the prevalence of abnormal VCUG between infants with UTI following circumcision, in comparison to infants with UTI not following circumcision (30% vs. 36%, p = NS).

CONCLUSIONS

The decision regarding the need for radiographic evaluation and prophylactic antibiotic treatment following UTI should be made regardless if infection was related to circumcision.