Radiological Investigations of Urinary Tract Infection in Children: Update on the Clinical Practice Guidelines

The urinary tract commences from the renal pelvis and terminates at the urethra. Essentially the tract is subdivided into the upper tract (renal pelvis and the ureters) and the lower tract (bladder and the urethra). This lengthy anatomic enclosure is uniquely made to be sterile. Its sterility is partly maintained by these mechanisms: effective urinary drainage and complete bladder emptying. Thus, urine stasis within the tract will potentially disrupt this sterility by creating an environment conducive for microbes to thrive. Furthermore, any congenital or acquired anomaly which causes obstruction to urine flow or promotes retro-grade urine flow will encourage stasis with subsequent microbial multiplication and involvement of the upper tract.