Urinary tract infection is common in VLBW infants

Objective: Determine the significance of urinary tract infection (UTI) as a cause of late onset sepsis (LOS) in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Study design: Analysis of blood, cerebrospinal fluid and urine culture results in VLBW infants >72-h old, admitted to the Georgetown University Hospital NICU between 2005 and 2015. Result: Of 527 VLBW infants, 297 (56.4%) underwent 911 evaluations for LOS; only one-third included urine cultures. UTI was diagnosed in 8.5% of VLBW infants (range 2–15.9%) and in 13.8% of infants weighing < 1000 g at birth. Gram-negative infections predominated. Concomitant blood cultures were negative in 96% of infants. UTI was more common than bloodstream infection by 2015. Conclusion: UTI is a significant cause of infection in VLBW infants. Urine culture should be included in all LOS evaluations in order to facilitate accurate diagnosis and appropriate antibiotic therapy.