Antibiotic Prophylaxis for Children with Vesicoureteral Reflux
Author Information
Author(s): Michiel Costers, Rita Van Damme-Lombaerts, Elena Levtchenko, Guy Bogaert
Primary Institution: University Hospital Leuven Gasthuisberg
Hypothesis
Can antibiotics be safely discontinued in children with vesicoureteral reflux and is prophylaxis effective in preventing recurrent urinary tract infections?
Conclusion
Long-term antibiotic prophylaxis may not be necessary for all children with vesicoureteral reflux, as some studies suggest it can be safely discontinued without increasing the risk of recurrent urinary tract infections.
Supporting Evidence
- Several uncontrolled studies indicate that antibiotic prophylaxis can be discontinued in a subset of patients.
- Recent randomized controlled trials suggest that antibiotic prophylaxis offers no advantage over intermittent antibiotic therapy.
- Children with low-grade reflux and normal anatomy may not need long-term antibiotics.
Takeaway
Doctors often give kids with a certain kidney problem antibiotics to prevent infections, but some kids might not need them at all.
Methodology
A systematic review of studies on antibiotic prophylaxis in children with vesicoureteral reflux was conducted, including both uncontrolled studies and randomized controlled trials.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to reliance on retrospective studies and the limited number of participants in some trials.
Limitations
The findings may not be generalizable to children with high-grade reflux, as they were often excluded from studies.
Participant Demographics
Children with primary vesicoureteral reflux, including various grades of reflux and different ages.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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