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Child Has A Moderate Growth Of Morganella Morganii In Urine. What Are The Dangers? Suggest Treatment?
Question: my child has a moderate growth of morganella morganii in his urine. He is 4 years old. How did he get this and what are the dangers and treatment?
Hello ,
Thanks for posting your query.
Morganella morganii is one of the gram negative bacteria known to cause urinary infections in children.This bacterium is found in the environment and in the intestinal tract of humans and other organisms. Though the exact source of infection in your child can't be commented upon as it can be due to varied reasons like external environment, public toilets, inadequate hydration, inadequate hygiene, a preexisting diarrhoea with the same pathogen.Sometimes its more commonly seen in individuals with low immunity, urinary tract anomalies or urinary stones.In young children it is a common cause of urinary infection .
There are several symptoms that this bacterium can cause: sepsis, ecthyma, endophthalmitis, and more commonly urinary tract infections, skin and soft tissue infections, meningitis, and septic
arthritis. But infection of urinary tract won't mean that your child will have any of the above mentioned other infections.If treated with appropriate antibiotics there is no such danger to your child .But spread of infection to upper urinary tract and kidneys might occur if treatment is delayed or inappropriate.
The treatment in your case can be as suggested by the antibiotic sensitivity of the organism isolated in culture.The report attached shows that the organism infecting your child is resistant to many usually prescribed antibiotics except levofloxacin and trimethoprim sulphamethoxazole combination.So idealy your doctor might prescribe any of the two.Considering his age trimethoprim sulphamethoxazole combination would be a safe and effective antibiotic if he is not having history of sulphur allergy .The urine culture should be repeated after the course of antibiotics to see for bacteriological clearance.If infection persists or recurs in future then the child should be evaluated by a urologist for urinary tract anomalies or stones or immunocompromised status.
Meanwhile the most important thing you can do is to ensure good hydration by giving him plenty of water.This helps in faster recovery and prevents urinary infections too .
Also remember to teach him hygienic hand washing to prevent spread of infection.
Hope I have answered your query.
Regards,
Thanks for posting your query.
Morganella morganii is one of the gram negative bacteria known to cause urinary infections in children.This bacterium is found in the environment and in the intestinal tract of humans and other organisms. Though the exact source of infection in your child can't be commented upon as it can be due to varied reasons like external environment, public toilets, inadequate hydration, inadequate hygiene, a preexisting diarrhoea with the same pathogen.Sometimes its more commonly seen in individuals with low immunity, urinary tract anomalies or urinary stones.In young children it is a common cause of urinary infection .
There are several symptoms that this bacterium can cause: sepsis, ecthyma, endophthalmitis, and more commonly urinary tract infections, skin and soft tissue infections, meningitis, and septic
arthritis. But infection of urinary tract won't mean that your child will have any of the above mentioned other infections.If treated with appropriate antibiotics there is no such danger to your child .But spread of infection to upper urinary tract and kidneys might occur if treatment is delayed or inappropriate.
The treatment in your case can be as suggested by the antibiotic sensitivity of the organism isolated in culture.The report attached shows that the organism infecting your child is resistant to many usually prescribed antibiotics except levofloxacin and trimethoprim sulphamethoxazole combination.So idealy your doctor might prescribe any of the two.Considering his age trimethoprim sulphamethoxazole combination would be a safe and effective antibiotic if he is not having history of sulphur allergy .The urine culture should be repeated after the course of antibiotics to see for bacteriological clearance.If infection persists or recurs in future then the child should be evaluated by a urologist for urinary tract anomalies or stones or immunocompromised status.
Meanwhile the most important thing you can do is to ensure good hydration by giving him plenty of water.This helps in faster recovery and prevents urinary infections too .
Also remember to teach him hygienic hand washing to prevent spread of infection.
Hope I have answered your query.
Regards,
Note: For further queries related to your child health, Talk to a Pediatrician. Click here to Book a Consultation.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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