Do antibiotics prevent recurrent UTI in children with anatomic abnormalities?

Abstract

Evidence is insufficient to recommend for or against antibiotic prophylaxis to prevent recurrent urinary tract infections (UTI) in children with anatomic abnormalities. Guidelines acknowledge this lack of evidence, but still recommend using prophylactic antibiotics in children with vesiculoureteral reflux (strength of recommendation: B, based on poor-quality or inconclusive cohort and randomized controlled studies). No controlled, prospective studies have examined the effectiveness of prophylactic antibiotics to prevent UTI recurrence or renal scarring.