Diagnostic Accuracy of Point-of-Care Tests for Pediatric Urinary Tract Infection: A Systematic Literature Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11594/jk-risk.05.2.7Keywords:
pediatric urinary tract infection , Point of care testing, POCT, Diagnostic accuracy, Systematic reviewAbstract
Background: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common bacterial infections in pediatric patients, requiring rapid and accurate diagnosis to prevent complications. Point-of-care tests offer immediate diagnostic capabilities, but their accuracy in pediatric populations requires systematic evaluation.
Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of point-of-care tests for pediatric urinary tract infections published between 2015–2025.
Methods: Comprehensive searches were conducted across PubMed, EuropePMC, Openalex, and ScienceDirect. Studies were included if they evaluated point-of-care diagnostic tests (dipstick tests, rapid diagnostics) in pediatric populations (0–18 years) with reported diagnostic outcomes.
Results: From 115 initially identified records, four studies were included. Among four included studies, dipstick tests showed variable sensitivity and specificity, while uNGAL and catheter-obtained samples had highest accuracy. POCTs were rapid and generally reliable, though less accurate for ketones.
Conclusions: POCTs provide rapid and generally reliable diagnosis of pediatric UTIs, supporting clinical decision-making and highlighting areas for further research.
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