DOI: https://doi.org/10.36347/sasjm.2025.v11i10.009

Pages: 985-990

Introduction: Febrile urinary tract infections (FUTIs) are among the most common bacterial infections in children and constitute a major cause of pediatric morbidity worldwide due to their clinical polymorphism, severity, and potential consequences on renal function. Objective: To evaluate the clinical picture of IUF in suspected children and to identify bacteria isolated from blood cultures carried out in Kisantu and Kimpese in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Methods: Descriptive and cross-sectional study based on retrospective data collected between January 2018 and December 2022 in the Kongo-Central province at the Saint Luc Hospital of Kisantu (HSLK) and the Evangelical Medical Institute (IME) of Kimpese. A convenience sample of 171 children meeting the inclusion criteria was retained. Statistical analyses were carried out with R version 4.4.2. Comparisons of proportions were carried out using the Pearson chi-square test with a 95% confidence interval and a significance threshold set at p < 0.05. Results: One hundred and seventy-one children suspected of IUF had blood cultures performed; 161 or 94.1% came from HSLK with 39 or 24.2% significant blood cultures and 10 or 5.8% came from IME/Kimpese with 2 or 20% significant blood cultures. The clinical picture was polymorphic, consisting mainly of non-specific general signs (fever 100%, chills 90.5%) in infants and specific signs (lumbar pain 82.6%, sensitivity of ureteral points 73.9% and Giordano + 87%) as age advanced. Five germs were isolated: E. coli 10 or 5.8%; Klebsiella pneumoniae 4 or 2.3%; Salmonella sp 15 or 8.7%; Salmonella Typhi 8 or 4.6%; Staphylococcus aureus 4 or 2.3%). Conclusion: IUF mainly affects very young children with a generally balanced distribution by sex. Their clinical presentation is polymorphic in infants but specific in older children. Salmonella sp. and E. coli are the most common bacteria with variations according to age and sex. These results provide essential local data to guide