Editor,—Recently dipsticks using nitrates and leucocyte esterase have become available as markers of urinary tract infection (UTI). Leucocyte esterase is an enzyme from neutrophils not normally found in urine and is a marker of pyuria. Nitrates are produced by the bacterial breakdown of dietary nitrates. Most urinary pathogens reduce nitrates to nitrites.1Dipsticks have been extensively tested in adults, but there are few reports on their use as a routine screening test for UTIs in children. In children, the method of urine collection is often variable, and UTIs have far reaching implications.2 This study was conducted to identify which dipstick tests are most accurate for detecting UTIs in routine paediatric practice.

A retrospective study was done …