Iron status of Libyan infants with urinary tract infection

Abstract

Serum iron, serum total iron binding capacity and tranferrin saturation levels were measured in 45 infants, of whom 19 had urinary tract infections confirmed by positive suprapubic aspiration. The control group comprised 26 healthy infants with negative results. Mean serum iron and transferrin saturation values were significantly lower in infants with urinary tract infection compared with the control group (P < 0.01 and P < 0.001 respectively), especially if the cultured organism was Escherichia coli (P < 0.01, P < 0.02). Total iron binding capacity was within the normal range. We conclude that iron deficiency is not a major factor in the etiopathogenesis of urinary tract infection in Libyan infants.