Diagnostic accuracy of urine biomarkers for urinary tract infection in older women: a case-control study.

Objectives

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is common among older women. However, diagnosis is challenging because of frequent chronic lower urinary tract symptoms, cognitive impairment, and a high prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB). Current urine diagnostics lack specificity, leading to unnecessary treatment and antimicrobial resistance. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of 12 urine biomarkers for diagnosing UTI in older women.

Methods

In this case-control study, cases were women ≥65 years with ≥2 new-onset lower urinary tract symptoms, pyuria, and one uropathogen ≥104 CFU/mL. Controls were asymptomatic and classified as ASB (one uropathogen ≥105 CFU/mL), negative culture, or mixed flora. Urine biomarker concentrations were measured through liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and ELISA. Diagnostic accuracy parameters of individual biomarkers and a biomarker model were derived from receiver operating characteristic curves.

Results

We included 162 community-dwelling and institutionalized older women. Five urine inflammatory biomarkers demonstrated high discriminative ability (area under the curve ≥0.80): interleukin 6, azurocidin, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 2, and C-X-C motif chemokine 9. Azurocidin exhibited the highest diagnostic accuracy (sensitivity 86% [95% CI 75%-93%] and specificity 89% [95% CI 82%-94%] at 16.7 ng/mmol creatinine). A combined biomarker and pyuria model showed improved diagnostic accuracy in patients with UTI and ASB, compared with pyuria alone.

Discussion

We identified several urine biomarkers that accurately differentiated older women with UTI from asymptomatic women, including ASB. These findings represent a potential advancement towards improved diagnostics for UTI in older women and warrant validation in a diverse population.

Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Overzicht publicatie

TitelDiagnostic accuracy of urine biomarkers for urinary tract infection in older women: a case-control study.
Datum1 februari 2024
Tijdschrift naamClinical microbiology and infection : the official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
Tijdschrift nummerv30.2:216-222
DOI10.1016/j.cmi.2023.09.023
PubMed37805035
AuteursBilsen MP, Treep MM, Aantjes MJ, van Andel E, Stalenhoef JE, van Nieuwkoop C, Leyten EMS, Delfos NM, van Uhm JIM, Sijbom M, Akintola AA, Numans ME, Achterberg WP, Mooijaart SP, van der Beek MT, Cobbaert CM, Conroy SP, Visser LG & Lambregts MMC
TrefwoordenAntimicrobial stewardship, Asymptomatic bacteriuria, Biomarkers, Diagnostic accuracy, Older patients, Urinary tract infection
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