OBJETIVO: a infecção do trato urinário é uma das doenças bacterianas mais freqüentes em pediatria. O envolvimento infeccioso renal (pielonefrite) pode evoluir com formação de cicatriz renal irreversível com conseqüente perda funcional e dano renal progressivo. Estudos recentes sugerem que até 50-60% das cicatrizes renais poderiam ser evitadas ou atenuadas com o diagnóstico precoce da pielonefrite. O objetivo deste estudo é determinar se a presença de alterações na cintilografia renal com DMSA na fase aguda da infecção urinária pode ser indicadora de pielonefrite. MÉTODOS: empregamos a técnica de washout em 17 meninas portadoras de infecção urinária como padrão-ouro na localização do sítio da infecção. Todas as crianças realizaram cintilografia renal com DMSA na fase aguda da infecção. Os resultados foram analisados pelo teste do qui-quadrado ou de Fisher. RESULTADOS: a cintilografia renal com DMSA detectou alterações em todos os cinco casos de pielonefrite diagnosticados pelo washout sugerindo envolvimento renal. Observamos também que apenas uma das crianças com cistite (total = 12 casos) apresentava alterações ao DMSA. Portanto, a sensibilidade e especificidade deste estudo com DMSA na fase aguda da infecção foi de 100% e 92% respectivamente no diagnóstico da pielonefrite. CONCLUSÕES: a cintilografia renal com DMSA mostrou-se método sensível no diagnóstico da pielonefrite aguda em crianças.

OBJECTIVE: to determine whether the presence of abnormal results in DMSA renal scintigraphy indicates pyelonephritis. METHODS: we performed the washout test in 17 children with urinary tract infection, as a criterion standard, to locate the infection site. All the children underwent DMSA renal scintigraphy in the acute phase of the disease. The results were analyzed by the chi-square test or Fisher test. RESULTS: DMSA renal scintigraphy revealed changes in all five cases of pyelonephritis, suggesting acute kidney involvement. On the other hand, only one child with cystitis (total = 12 cases) had abnormal results in renal scintigraphy. Sensitivity and specificity were 100% and 92%, respectively. CONCLUSION: DMSA renal scintigraphy is a sensitive method for the diagnosis of pyelonephritis in children.

Colonization of hospitalized patients with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is of increasing concern. To evaluate this problem in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) in Brazil, we studied 100 patients admitted to two ICUs from April to June, 1997. Of the 100 patients, 70 were male, 53 were age 60 years or older, 55 were previously hospitalized, 78 were transferred to the ICU from other hospital units, 49 had received antibiotic therapy, and 66 had undergone recent surgery. Nasal and axillary swab cultures were obtained on admission and every 48 hours thereafter until discharge. MRSA were identified by plating any cultured S. aureus on Mueller-Hinton agar containing 6mug/ml of oxacillin. At the time of admission, 46 (46%) of the patients were colonized with MRSA. No associated risk factors for acquiring MRSA (age, previous hospitalization, prior surgery) could be identified. Of the 54 patients negative for MRSA on admission, 28 (52%) became colonized while in the ICU. Sixteen (22%) of the 74 colonized patients (colonized either on admission or during ICU stay) had associated respiratory or urinary tract infections due to MRSA, and 9 (56%) died. No correlation with special risk factors (invasive procedures, antibiotic use, age, chronic disease) was identified. MRSA occurred frequently, but there was minimal evidence of associated risk factors. Thus, control of MRSA cannot be accomplished by targeting special factors alone, but requires attention to preventing microbial spread in all areas. Of special concern is the high frequency of acquiring the organism in the ICU (52%). Education concerning the importance of hand washing, environmental surface cleaning, and barrier protection from infected patients is needed.