Asymptomatic Bacteriuria in HIV Positive Nigerian Children

Abstract

This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria in HIV positive children and to identify the causative organisms. We studied 155 Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infected children aged 10 months to 17 years attending the Paediatric HIV clinics of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital. Children who were febrile, those with complaints suggestive of urinary tract infection, those with known anatomic abnormalities of the urinary tract and those with a history of antibiotic use in the 2weeks proceeding recruitment were excluded. Analysis was carried out on clean catch mid-stream urine sample obtained from each subject. Asymptomatic bacteriuria was found in 10.3% of the children. It was higher in the school age group of 6-12years and significantly more prevalent in females (P = 0.004). Escherichia coli, Klebsiella species and Staphylococcus aureus were the isolates cultured from urine, accounting for 62%, 25% and 12.5% respectively We conclude that the prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria is high in HIV infected children especially those in the school age group.