Urinary tract infections (UTI) in young children can lead to kidney damage but are notoriously difficult to diagnose in primary care because symptoms can often be vague and unclear. A definitive diagnosis can only be achieved by a urine test but collecting urine samples from babies and children under five is a challenge.

After a three-year study involving more than 7,000 children, the research team developed a technique to help GPs and nurses to decide from which children a urine sample should be collected. This involved a clinical rule using symptoms and signs, which they found worked better than routine clinician diagnosis. Once a urine sample is obtained, the second step of the rule adds dipstick results to help identify who should be treated with antibiotics.

The technique could reduce the amount of time and effort used to collect unnecessary urine samples and increase sampling among children most likely to have a UTI. The researchers hope this will also help GPs and nurses better target antibiotic prescribing so only those who are likely to benefit from antibiotics receive them.

Funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), results from the DUTY (Diagnosis of Urinary Tract infections in Young children) study, which involved researchers from Universities of Bristol, Southampton, Cardiff and Kings College London, were published in the Annals of Family Medicine (July 2016).

The award was given in the ‘Children, Reproduction, Genetics, Infections’ category and was presented at a ceremony in London on 19 September.

Professor Alastair Hay, lead author of the paper and Professor of Primary Care at the Centre for Academic Primary Care (CAPC), University of Bristol said: “On behalf of the research team, the study parents and the hundreds of practice staff who supported recruitment to the study, I am delighted the DUTY study has received this recognition.”