The Influence of Instruction about the Method of Urine Collection and Storage on the Incidence or Prevalence of Urinary Tract Infection

Abstract

A study of 66 children, including 46 (69.7 percent) females and aged between four weeks and 15 years with significant bacteriuria was undertaken over a four-month period to determine the effects of instructions received about the methods of urine collection and storage on the prevalence of urinary tract infection. The commonest clinical presentation was fever (65.2 per cent). Only 23(35.1 per cent) of the patients had specific symptoms suggestive of urinary tract infection(UTI). The method of urine collection was explained to 68.2 per cent of the patients and/or their relations. This instruction was given mostly by the attending physicians (80.0 per cent). Despite the explanation, 14 (21.2 per cent) of the patients collected the urine samples wrongly and 48 (72.7 per cent) stored the samples longer than one hour. Significant bacteriuria was more prevalent in 72.7 per cent of patients who submitted their urine samples to the laboratory later than one hour after collection. There is a need for health care workers to effectively educate patients and/or their relations on the proper methods of urine collection and storage in order to reduce the frequency of making a false diagnosis of UTI with its consequent financial wastage.

Nigerian Journal of Paediatrics 2001; 28:39. pp 39-42