Urinary Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin for the Diagnosis of Urinary Tract Infections.
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ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVES:To determine the accuracy of the novel biomarker urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (uNGAL) to diagnose urinary tract infections (UTIs) in febrile infants and young children. METHODS:Prospective cross-sectional study of febrile infants <3 months ( ? 38.0°C) and children 3 to 24 months (? 39.0°C) evaluated for UTIs. uNGAL levels, urinalysis, Gram-stain and culture were obtained. UTI was defined by colony counts. RESULTS:Of 260 patients, 35 (13.5%) had UTIs. Median uNGAL levels were 215.1 ng/mL (interquartile range: 100.3-917.8) and 4.4 ng/mL (interquartile range: 1.6-11.8) in the groups diagnosed with and without UTIs, respectively. The area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve for uNGAL was 0.978 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.948-1.000). At a threshold uNGAL level of 39.1 ng/mL, sensitivity was 97.1% (95% CI: 83.4-99.9) and specificity was 95.6% (95% CI: 91.7-97.7). uNGAL had higher sensitivity than the combination of leukocyte esterase (in trace or greater amounts) or nitrite (+) (97.1%, 95% CI: 83.4-99.9 vs 74.3%, 95% CI: 56.4-86.9), with similar specificity (95.6%, 95% CI: 91.7-97.7 vs 97.3%, 95% CI: 94.0-98.9). uNGAL had higher sensitivity than Gram-stain (97.1%, 95% CI: 83.4-99.9 vs 74.3%, 95%: CI: 56.4-86.9), with similar specificity (95.6%, 95% CI: 91.7-97.7 vs 100.0%, 95% CI: 97.9-100.0). CONCLUSIONS:uNGAL has substantial accuracy to identify those with and without UTIs in infants and young children. Further studies will need to confirm our findings and determine if uNGAL is a more cost-effective test than standard screening tests.
SUBMITTER: Lubell TR
PROVIDER: S-EPMC6658088 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Dec
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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