Association of Antibiotic Treatment Duration With Recurrence of Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infection in Pediatric Patients.

Background

Gaps and inconsistencies in published information about optimal antibiotic treatment duration for uncomplicated urinary tract infection (UTI) in pediatric patients pose a dilemma for antibiotic stewardship.

Objective

Evaluate the association of antibiotic treatment duration with recurrence rates in children with new-onset cystitis or pyelonephritis.

Methods

Retrospective cohort analysis of patients aged 2 to 17 years with new-onset cystitis or pyelonephritis and without renal/anatomical abnormality was conducted using Truven Health MarketScan Database for 2013-2015.

Results

Of 7698 patients, 85.5% had cystitis, 14.3% pyelonephritis. Duration of antibiotic treatment was as follows: 3 to 5 days for cystitis (20.4%) or 7 (33.6%), 10 (44.2%), or 14 (1.8%) days for any UTI. Recurrence occurred in 5.5% of patients. Covariates associated with increased recurrence risk included pretreatment antibiotic exposure (odds ratio [OR] = 1.29; 95% CI = 1.06-1.57), pyelonephritis on diagnosis date (OR = 1.44; 95% CI = 1.03-2.00), follow-up visit during antibiotic treatment (OR = 3.21; 95% CI = 2.20-4.68), parenteral antibiotic (OR = 1.89; 95% CI = 1.33-2.69), and interaction of pyelonephritis diagnosis with nitrofurantoin monotherapy (OR = 3.68; 95% CI = 1.20-11.29). After adjustment for covariates, the association between duration of antibiotic treatment and recurrence was not significant (compared with 7 days: 10 days: OR = 1.07, 95% CI = 0.85-1.33; 14 days: OR = 0.89, 95% CI = 0.45-1.78). Conclusions and Relevance: Antibiotic treatment duration was not significantly associated with recurrence of uncomplicated UTI in a national pediatric cohort. Results provide support for shorter-course treatment, consistent with antimicrobial stewardship efforts.