Urinary tract infections (UTI) (General Paediatrics)

PAEDIATRIC

  • If any of the following are present or suspected, please refer the patient to the emergency department (via ambulance if necessary) or follow local emergency care protocols or seek emergent medical advice if in a remote region.

    • Acute infant urinary tract infection presenting with septicaemia or acutely unwell
    • Urinary tract infection in infants <3 months
    • Refer to local HealthPathways or local guidelines
    • Children > 1 year of age who have had a single uncomplicated UTI, not requiring hospitalisation do not require specialist review
    • Blood pressure levels for boys and girls by age and height percentile
    • Micturating cystourethrograms are rarely required and should not be done with referrals to general paediatrics
    • In the majority of cases, it is thought inappropriate for children to wait more than 6 months for an outpatient initial appointment
    • Next of kin or person(s) who is legally responsible for patient consent, with the exception of children under guardianship orders with the Department of Child Safety, Seniors and Disability Services, should be present at the first outpatient appointment.
    • If you have a reason to suspect a child in Queensland is experiencing harm, or is at risk of experiencing harm, you need to contact Child Safety Services
    • Statement of intent – the prioritisation of health services for children and young people in the child protection system
Minimum Referral Criteria
Category 1
(appointment within 30 calendar days)
  • The following conditions could be referred to general paediatrics or paediatric surgery depending on the service and underlying condition:
    • Infants ≤ 6 months presenting with 1st UTI
    • Child with known renal tract abnormalities
    • Significant neonatal renal pelvic dilatation (>15mm or >10mm if bilateral)
  • A child:
    • at risk of entering the child protection system (0 – 18 years of age)
    • currently in out of home care (OOHC) (0 – 18 years of age), or
    • Adolescents transitioning to adult healthcare following an out of home care experience (15 – 25 years of age)
    where they have previously been on a waiting list for this problem and were removed without receiving a service
Category 2
(appointment within 90 calendar days)
  • Recurrent UTI
  • Known renal tract abnormality transferring from another specialist

NB:  Infants and children with history of acute pyelonephritis/upper urinary tract infection after acute hospital care who do not have significant structural anomalies.
Category 3
(appointment within 365 calendar days)
  • No category 3 criteria

Please insert the below information and minimum referral criteria into referral

1. Reason for request Indicate on the referral

  • To establish a diagnosis
  • For treatment or intervention
  • For advice and management
  • For specialist to take over management
  • Reassurance for GP/second opinion
  • For a specified test/investigation the GP can't order, or the patient can't afford or access
  • Reassurance for the patient/family
  • For other reason (e.g. rapidly accelerating disease progression)
  • Clinical judgement indicates a referral for specialist review is necessary

2. Essential referral information Referral will be returned without this

  • Evaluate adequacy of urinary stream
  • Confirmation of OOHC (where appropriate)
  • Results of MSU MCS (clean catch) dipstick and culture
  • Results of renal tract USS

3. Additional referral information Useful for processing the referral

Highly desirable information – may change triage category

  • Frequency of urinary tract infections and age of first onset
  • A reliable urine specimen is vital to confirm the diagnosis – urine bags must not be used (high false positive rate)

Desirable information- will assist at consultation

  • History of constipation, fluid intake, poor hygiene, recent threadworm treatment
  • Blood pressure readings
  • Other past medical history
  • Immunisation history
  • Developmental history
  • Medication history
  • Significant psychosocial risk factors (especially parents mental health, family violence, housing and financial stress, Department of Child Safety, Seniors and Disability Services involvement)
  • Height/weight/head circumference and growth charts with prior measurements if available.
  • Other physical examination findings inclusive of CNS, birth marks or dysmorphology
  • Any relevant laboratory results or medical imaging reports

4. Request

  • Patient's Demographic Details

    • Full name (including aliases)
    • Date of birth
    • Residential and postal address
    • Telephone contact number/s – home, mobile and alternative
    • Medicare number (where eligible)
    • Name of the parent or caregiver (if appropriate)
    • Preferred language and interpreter requirements
    • Identifies as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander

    Referring Practitioner Details

    • Full name
    • Full address
    • Contact details – telephone, fax, email
    • Provider number
    • Date of referral
    • Signature

    Relevant clinical information about the condition

    • Presenting symptoms (evolution and duration)
    • Physical findings
    • Details of previous treatment (including systemic and topical medications prescribed) including the course and outcome of the treatment
    • Body mass index (BMI)
    • Details of any associated medical conditions which may affect the condition or its treatment (e.g. diabetes), noting these must be stable and controlled prior to referral
    • Current medications and dosages
    • Drug allergies
    • Alcohol, tobacco and other drugs use

    Reason for request

    • To establish a diagnosis
    • For treatment or intervention
    • For advice and management
    • For specialist to take over management
    • Reassurance for GP/second opinion
    • For a specified test/investigation the GP can't order, or the patient can't afford or access
    • Reassurance for the patient/family
    • For other reason (e.g. rapidly accelerating disease progression)
    • Clinical judgement indicates a referral for specialist review is necessary

    Clinical modifiers

    • Impact on employment
    • Impact on education
    • Impact on home
    • Impact on activities of daily living
    • Impact on ability to care for others
    • Impact on personal frailty or safety
    • Identifies as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander

    Other relevant information

    • Willingness to have surgery (where surgery is a likely intervention)
    • Choice to be treated as a public or private patient
    • Compensable status (e.g. DVA, Work Cover, Motor Vehicle Insurance, etc.)

  • If any of the following are present or suspected, please refer the patient to the emergency department (via ambulance if necessary) or follow local emergency care protocols or seek emergent medical advice if in a remote region.

    • Please note that where appropriate and where available, the referral may be streamed to an associated public allied health and/or nursing service.  Access to some specific services may include initial assessment and management by associated public allied health and/or nursing, which may either facilitate or negate the need to see the public medical specialist.

    • A change in patient circumstance (such as condition deteriorating, or becoming pregnant) may affect the urgency categorisation and should be communicated as soon as possible.

    • Please indicate in the referral if the patient is unable to access mandatory tests or investigations as they incur a cost or are unavailable locally.

Last updated: 4 December 2024

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