A Study to Differentiate Upper and Lower Urinary Tract Infection with Blood CRP Levels

BACKGROUND: In UTI differentiation between upper and lower urinary tract infection has prognostic significance. OBJECTIVES: To explore a diagnostic method to differentiate for upper and lower urinary tract Infections. The present study was undertaken to determine the levels of CRP in patients with the diagnosis of urinary tract infection and to compare the levels of CRP in relationship to upper and lower UTI. METHODS: 100 Patients with urine samples showing positive urine culture and patients showing symptoms of UTI were classified based on symptoms, clinical examination, investigations into upper and lower urinary tract infection. serum C-Reactive Protein levels were estimated in all the study subjects. RESULTS: In our study, the mean value of CRP in subjects with upper UTI (159.20) was significantly higher than the mean value of lower UTI (16.16). Statistical analysis was done between these two variables based on chi square test, for which the p value was < 0.001 (< 0.05) which is statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Serum C-Reactive Protein level measurements can be done in patients with symptoms of urinary tract infection especially in individuals with risk factors such as Diabetes Mellitus to make an prediction of upper urinary tract involvement. CRP levels can also be used for observing pathogenesis and curative effect, which is a non-invasive test and is not associated with morbidity and also economically feasible in tertiary and peripheral setting