Pyuria is absent during urinary tract infections in neutropenic patients

Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2011 May;56(5):868-70. doi: 10.1002/pbc.22799. Epub 2010 Oct 14.

Abstract

To investigate the diagnostic significance of a normal urine sediment in the work-up for fever of unknown origin in neutropenia. Urinary tract infection was defined as ≥10(5) urinary pathogens in the absence of another focus. Pyuria was found in only 1/23 neutropenic episodes compared to 21/31 in controls (P < 0.0001).

MeSH terms

  • Child
  • Female
  • Fever / etiology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Neutropenia / complications*
  • Neutropenia / microbiology
  • Prognosis
  • Pyuria / diagnosis*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Urinary Tract Infections / diagnosis*
  • Urinary Tract Infections / etiology
  • Urine / microbiology*