Community-acquired pediatric urinary tract infections caused by Morganella morganii

INTRODUCTION: Escherichia coli is the most common microorganism recovered in urinary tract infections (UTI) in all age groups. Lately, different pathogens, like Morganella morganii, are beginning to be isolated. The aim of this study was to investigate children with UTI caused by Morganella morganii.
METHODS: Children with UTI caused by Morganella morganii, in our pediatric outpatient clinic, were retrospectively evaluated.
RESULTS: The mean age of 11 children was 4.2±1.9 years (min: 19 months,max: 7.5 years). Four (36.4%) patients were female. The most frequent symptoms were irritability and dysuria (n=5, 45.5%). Urinalysis was positive for leukocytes in 9(81.8%), hematuria in 5(45.5%), and nitrite in 6 (54.5%) patients. None of the patients had electrolyte abnormalities or renal failure. Colony count was most prevalently 100,000CFU/mL (n=7,63.6%). The pathogen was most sensitive to imipenem/meropenem and piperacillin-tazobactam (n=11,%100,for both). Two(18.1%) patients were hospitalized. Empirical antibiotic treatments were switched to amikacin (15mg/kg/day) for outpatient patients and piperacillin-tazobactam (300mg/kg/day) for hospitalized patients for 10 days. Repeat urine cultures on the third day of treatment were negative.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Morganella morganii, which is usually encountered as any kind of nosocomial or opportunistic infections, is presented as a cause of community-acquired UTI in this study. Antibiotic susceptibility profiles are crucial in directing treatment like other infections.