In-out catheterization of young children with suspected urinary tract infection: a retrospective journal study.

It is important that pediatric nurses know that the methods they use are reliable and the most appropriate for the child's security and well being. In-out catheterization is a sterile invasive method to obtain a urine sample in young children. To confirm this as a reliable method, a study of medical records from 61 children ages 0 to 24 months with suspected urinary tract infections (UTIs) was performed. Each child had produced both a urine sample from an adhesive bag and a urine sample from in-out catheterization. Dipsticks were taken from both samples; and the methods were compared with kappa analysis. Cultures were obtained from the catheter urine. UTI was verified as a growth in the catheter urine in 32 out of 61 children. Catheterized samples of urine with 3+ or 4+ of leucocytes all had a growth of bacteria in the culture. This examination of medical records showed that in-out catheterization is a reliable method to use to confirm UTIs in children 0 to 24 months.