Factors Associated with Urinary Tract Infection in Neonates with Prolonged Jaundice Admitted to Neonatal Intensive-Care Unit (NICU)

Jaundice is the most common disease in neonates; prolonged jaundice lasts for more than 14 days in neonates and more than 21 days in premature neonates. Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a potentially serious disease during infancy and childhood and with replication can cause many problems and irreversible effects. This study aimed to identify the factors affecting urinary tract infection in hospitalized neonates in neonatal intensive-care unit (NICU) with prolonged jaundice. In this cross-sectional study, from 1844 studied infants during 3 years of 2010-2013, 91 infants admitted to the NICUs of hospitals in Kermanshah city, Iran, due to prolonged jaundice, were enrolled. Via convince sampling, data were collected using a checklist including the demographic data, type of the delivery, type of neonate feeding, birth weight, gestational age, presence or absence of urinary tract infection and parent's kinship. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics via SPSS software. The prevalence of urinary tract infection in neonates with prolonged jaundice was 59.3 percent. Gender, gestational age, type of delivery, and parent's kinship were not related to urinary tract infection. Feeding type and urinary tract infection were significantly related (P < 0.05). Feeding type has an impact on urinary tract infection and breastfeeding is a priority. In addition, urine culture in neonates with prolonged jaundice, or those with unknown cause, may be advantageous.