Reliability of rapid tests for urine analysis in early detection of urinary tract infection in children [Article in Bosnian]

Abstract

Objective - Research was carried out in order to explore the reliability of biochemical (nitrite test, leucocyte esterase test, proteins and blood) and microscopic examination of urine (bacteria and white blood cells) in early detection of urinary tract infection (UTI).

Patients and Methods - The research involved 300 examinees aged from 1 month to 14 years of life that were examined in Department of Paediatrics within the University Clinical Centre in Tuzla due to suspicion of urinary infection in the period from 1.8.2006 to 1.8.2007. Through cross-sectional research, biochemical and microscopic urine examination and urine culture results analysis were undertaken for each patient to detect the existence of UTI.

Results - The reliability analysis of the nitrite test determined that it is reliable enough to confirm the existence of UTI with high reliability, but the negative result, although decreasing the probability, is not reliable enough to exclude its existence. Leukocyte esterase is the most reliable test to exclude the existence of UTI, but also the least reliable to confirm it. Protein and blood tests are not useful for diagnosis of UTI. Microscopic examination of bacteria and white blood cells in the urine sediment has moderate reliability in confirmation and exclusion of UTI. A combination of nitrite test and leukocyte esterase is a reliable test to confirm UTI, but not reliable enough to exclude its existence. A combination of white blood cells and bacteria results is reliable enough to confirm UTI and moderately reliable to exclude it. A combination of test strip results (nitrite test, leukocyte esterase) and a microscopic examination of urine (bacteria and leukocytes in the sediment) is a very reliable test for diagnosis of UTI.

Conclusion - Rapid tests showed different reliability in early detection of UTI. A combination of test strip results (nitrite test, leukocyte esterase) and microscopic examination of urine (bacteria and leukocytes in the sediment) is a very reliable test for diagnosis of urinary infection. However, final confirmation of UTI diagnosis depends on the result of the urine culture.