Urinary Tract Infection

Pathway Background and Objectives

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common causes of SBI (serious bacterial infection) in children aged 2-24 months, and a common reason for inpatient admission. The goal of this pathway is early treatment to help with elimination of infection and prevention of bacteremia. Early intervention will also help decrease recurrence and long-term complications including hypertension, renal scarring and impaired renal growth and function. In 2011, the American Academy of Pediatrics came out with new guidelines on how to assess and treat UTI in children aged 2-24 months.

The objectives of this pathway are to:

  • Decrease the variation in method of urine collection
  • Improve accurate diagnosis of UTI using specific lab criteria
  • Improve the use of appropriate antibiotic therapy in the inpatient and outpatient settings
  • Standardize the use of renal bladder ultrasound for 1st time UTI
  • Decrease use of voiding cysto-urethrogram (VCUG) as a first line imaging tool
  • Outline appropriate follow up

Algorithm  Educational Module

  • Percentage of patients with use of UTI order site
  • Percentage of patients age 2 to 24 month with 1st time UTI ordered for renal ultrasound
  • Percentage of patients receiving VCUG
  • Percentage of patients with first line antibiotic choice per pathway recommendations
  • Percentage of patients with appropriately dose antibiotics per pathway
  • Percentage of patients with appropriate duration of antibiotics 
  • Monthly average duration of antibiotic courses
  • Length of stay ED (minutes) and inpatient (days)
  • Kara Denz Fluck, PAC
  • Marta Neubauer, MD

The clinical pathways in the above links have been developed specifically for use at Connecticut Children’s and are made available publicly for informational and/or educational purposes only. The clinical pathways are not intended to be, nor are they, a substitute for individualized professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Although Connecticut Children’s makes all efforts to ensure the accuracy of the posted content, Connecticut Children’s makes no warranty of any kind as to the accuracy or completeness of the information or its fitness for use at any particular facility or in any individual case.