A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL OF 2 METHODS FOR COLLECTION OF STERILE URINE IN NEONATES

Objective: To test whether urethral catheterization (UC) is better tha n suprapubic bladder aspiration (SPA) as a method for collection of st erile urine in neonates. Methods: Thirty-three babies, requiring steri le collection of urine, were randomly assigned to either urethral cath eterization (n = 16), median gestation 28 +/- 3.9 weeks, median birth weight 968 g (range 650-4100) or SPA (n = 17), median gestation 26 +/- 5.6 weeks, median birth weight 926 g (range 771-4070). The primary ou tcome was success in obtaining urine. Secondary outcomes were complica tions and urine culture results. Results: Some urine was obtained in 1 1 (64.7%) babies in the SPA group and in 13 (81.2%) babies in the cath eter group. Sufficient urine for analysis (>0.5 ml) was obtained in 10 (58.8%) in the SPA group versus 5 (31.2%) babies in the catheter grou p. There were more contaminated specimens in the catheter group but th is was not significant in this small study. Conclusions: In this small randomized controlled trial urethral catheterization offered no signi ficant advantage over SPA.