Clinical spectrum, antibiotic sensitivity, and clinical outcome of urinary tract infection in the pediatric age group: A cross-sectional study

Mathur G, Singhal PK, Kavya R, Dhakad M

Pdf Page Numbers :- 58-63

Gaurav Mathur^1,*, Pankaj Kumar Singhal¹, Kavya R¹ and Monika Dhakad¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, Government Medical College, Kota, Rajasthan 324005, India

*Corresponding author: Dr. Gaurav Mathur, Department of Pediatrics, Government Medical College, Kota, Rajasthan 324005, India. Email: gm97844@gmail.com

Received 4 February 2026; Revised 13 March 2026; Accepted 24 March 2026; Published 31 March 2026

Citation: Mathur G, Singhal PK, Kavya R, Dhakad M. Clinical spectrum, antibiotic sensitivity, and clinical outcome of urinary tract infection in the pediatric age group: A cross-sectional study. J Med Sci Res. 2026; 14(2):58-63. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17727/JMSR.2026/14-11

Copyright: © 2026 Mathur G et al. Published by KIMS Foundation and Research Center. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

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Abstract

Background: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a common pediatric bacterial infection; delayed diagnosis and antimicrobial resistance increase complications and treatment challenges. The objective of this study is to evaluate the clinical profile, bacteriological spectrum, antibiotic sensitivity patterns, and clinical outcomes of urinary tract infections in children.

Methods: This hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Pediatrics, J.K. Lone Mother and Child Hospital from October 2024 to January 2026. A total of 83 children aged 6 months to 18 years with culture-confirmed UTI were included. Urine samples were collected under aseptic precautions using clean-catch midstream collection, catheterization, or urine collection bags as appropriate. Samples were processed using semi-quantitative culture techniques on CLED agar. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed using the Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion method according to CLSI guidelines.

Results: Among 83 culture-positive cases, females constituted 59% and males 41%. Fever (85.5%) was the most common presenting symptom, followed by abdominal pain (54.2%) and increased frequency of micturition (30.1%). Escherichia coli (E. coli) was the predominant pathogen (66.3%), followed by Klebsiella species (19.3%). Nitrofurantoin and Fosfomycin showed high sensitivity among oral antibiotics, whereas Fosfomycin and Imipenem demonstrated maximum sensitivity among injectable agents. High resistance was observed against Amoxyclav, Ciprofloxacin, and third-generation cephalosporins.

Conclusion: Urinary tract infection remains a major pediatric health concern with evolving antimicrobial resistance. E. coli continues to be the predominant uropathogen. Periodic surveillance of local antimicrobial susceptibility patterns and culture-guided therapy are essential for effective management and prevention of complications.

Keywords: urinary tract infection; pediatrics, antibiotic sensitivity; Escherichia coli; antimicrobial resistance