Association between the frequency of disposable diaper changing and urinary tract infection in infants.

Background: Often diapers are not changed after infants pass urine.

Aim: To define the association between the frequency of changing diapers and urinary tract infection (UTI) in infants.

Methods: Urine samples were tested in 131 infants (aged from 2 months to 2.5 years) who had a temperature > or =38 degrees C. The authors investigated the number of times diapers were changed daily. A total of 128 infants, excluding 3 cases, were divided into 2 groups: group A, without UTI (n = 96); group B, with UTI (n = 32). The number of times diapers were changed was compared between the groups.

Results: In group A and group B, the number of times diapers were changed daily were 7.5 +/- 1.4 and 4.7 +/- 1.4, respectively. The number of times diapers were changed was significantly lower (P < .0001) in group B than in group A.

Conclusions: Among infants wearing disposable diapers, there is an increased risk of UTI as the frequency of changing diapers decreases.