Are prophylactic antibiotics indicated after a urinary tract infection?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Many children with urinary tract infection (UTI) and urinary tract abnormality such as vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) are given prophylactic antibiotic to prevent recurrence of UTI and permanent kidney damage. Occasionally, children with normal urinary tract receive prophylactic antibiotic to alleviate the patient suffering and family inconvenience associated with recurrent symptomatic UTI. These recommendations are mostly opinion-based and are derived from studies that were not randomized and were done before the current renal imaging modalities became available. The purpose of this review is to discuss these recommendations in the context of recent research findings.

RECENT FINDINGS: Recent studies have raised serious doubts about the role of antibiotic prophylaxis after UTI by demonstrating the presence of preexisting renal scars without UTI in some patients, systematic reviews of published literature on UTI and VUR, and by comparing randomized patients with VUR who received antibiotic prophylaxis with those who did not receive any prophylaxis. However, the new knowledge has also highlighted that,apart from skillful management of individual patients, well designed studies are needed to answer the questions on antibiotic prophylaxis across the spectrum of UTI in different clinical situations. One such study currently underway is the Randomized Intervention for Children With Vesicoureteral Reflux (RIVUR) study, which will evaluate the role of antibiotic prophylaxis in preventing recurrent UTI and renal scarring in young children with VUR.

SUMMARY: It is advisable that, until the results of more appropriately designed studies become available, UTI in young children is considered as a risk factor for renal scarring and each patient is treated with prudence.