Urinary tract infections in neonates with jaundice in their first two weeks of life.

BACKGROUND Hyperbilirubinemia is a frequently seen condition in neonates. This study was undertaken to determine the role of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in the etiology of indirect hyperbilirubinemia in neonates with jaundice in their first two weeks of life. METHODS The study was conducted prospectively. The subjects were neonates aged 4-14 days with hyperbilirubinemia which could not be detected by routine tests and was sufficiently severe to necessitate phototherapy. RESULTS The study was performed in 104 neonates, of whom 18% (n=19) had UTI. The most frequently identified micro-organism was Escherichia coli (43%). Phototherapy duration and rebound bilirubin level were higher in neonates with UTI (P<0.05). CONCLUSION UTI should be investigated in neonates with hyperbilirubinemia of unknown etiology in the first two weeks of life.