Can prophylactic antibiotics safely be discontinued in children with vesicoureteral reflux?
PURPOSE: We review the outcome of stopping prophylactic antibiotics in children with persistent vesicoureteral reflux (VUR). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective chart review of patients with VUR followed off antibiotics during the last 12 years. Selection criteria included children 4 years old or older who were toilet trained, could verbalize and had a normal voiding pattern. Exclusion criteria were posterior urethral valves, ectopic ureter, neurogenic bladder and severe voiding dysfunction. Outcome measures were age at stopping antibiotics, duration on and off antibiotics, grade of reflux at the time of stopping antibiotics, the occurrence of urinary tract infections (UTI) and new renal scarring on followup. All patients had upper tract assessment performed with renal ultrasound. RESULTS: A total of 67 girls (85.9%) and 11 boys (14.1%) were included in the analysis. VUR was bilateral in 36 patients (46.2%), on the left side in 29 (37.2%) and on the right side in 13 (16
