Outpatient crystalluria: prevalence, crystal types, and associations with comorbidities and urinary tract infections at a provincial hospital

Samira  Natoubi; Rim  Jamal; Nezha  Baghdad

doi:10.18502/ijm.v17i3.18820

Samira Natoubi Department of Nursing, Higher Institute of the Nursing Professions and Technical Health of Casablanca, Laboratory of Health, Care and Sustainable Development, Casablanca, Morocco
Rim Jamal Department of Applied Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University Hassan I, Settat, Morocco
Nezha Baghdad Medical Laboratory, Provincial Hassan II Hospital, Delegation of the Health Ministry, Settat, Morocco

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijm.v17i3.18820

Keywords: Crystalluria; Comorbidity; Urinary tract infections; Bacterial infections; Kidney calculi

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Crystalluria refers to the occurrence of crystals in urine resulting from urinary supersatura- tion, which disrupts the balance between factors that promote and those that inhibit crystal formation in urine. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of crystalluria, identify crystal types, determine associated comorbidities, and assess links with bacterial urinary tract infections in outpatients at Hassan II Hospital in Settat.

Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted from January 2022 to May 2023 at Hassan II Hospital. Urine samples from patients suspected of urinary tract infections, who underwent cytobacteriological urine examinations, were analyzed.

Results: Among 1,025 urine samples, 22.04% showed crystalluria. The mean age of patients was 51.3 with a standard de- viation of 18.1 years. The most common crystal types were calcium oxalate (46.4%), uric acid (23.5%), urates (15.1%) and struvite (9.3%). Comorbidities including, diabetes, kidney failure, prostatitis, and nephrotic syndrome was associated with urinary crystal formation. The prevalence of urinary tract infections in patients with urinary crystals was 10.6%. Struvite crys- tals were specifically associated with bacterial infections, especially with Proteus mirabilis, Escherichia coli, Citrobacter freundii, Citrobacter koseri, and Enterobacter cloacae.

Conclusion: Monitoring urinary crystals is essential for preventing the formation of kidney calculi and crystal-associated infections, especially in high-risk individuals.