Incidence of neonatal urinary tract infection

Abstract

A screening survey of 600 fully booked infants in a maternity hospital is described. 8 infants (7 boys and 1 girl) were found to have urinary infection, representing an over-all incidence of 1·4% (boys 2·3% girls 0·3%). 7 of these infants had signs so mild that in all probability they would have been overlooked had the survey not been in progress. The frequent occurrence of transient mild urinary tract infection, particularly in male infants, is stressed.