Urinary tract infections (UTI)
Emergency referrals
If any of the following are present or suspected, phone 000 to arrange immediate transfer to the emergency department or seek emergent medical advice if in a remote region.
It is proposed that the following conditions should be sent directly to emergency. This is not a list of all conditions that should be sent to the emergency department, it is intended as guidance for presentations that may otherwise have been directed to general paediatric outpatients:
Does your patient wish to be referred?
Minimum referral criteria
Does your patient meet the minimum referral criteria?
Category 1
Appointment within 30 days is desirable
- The following conditions could be referred to general paediatrics or paediatric surgery depending on the service and underlying condition:
- Infants ≤ 6 months presenting with 1st UTI
- Child with known renal tract abnormalities
- Significant neonatal renal pelvic dilatation (>15mm or >10mm if bilateral)
Category 2
Appointment within 90 days is desirable
- Recurrent UTI
- Known renal tract abnormality transferring from another specialist
Category 3
Appointment within 365 days is desirable
- No category 3 criteria
If your patient does not meet the minimum referral criteria
Consider other treatment pathways or an alternative diagnosis.
If you still need to refer your patient:
- Please explain why (e.g. warning signs or symptoms, clinical modifiers, uncertain about diagnosis, etc.)
- Please note that your referral may not be accepted or may be redirected to another service
Other important information for referring practitioners
Not an exhaustive list
- Children > 1 year of age who have had a single uncomplicated UTI, not requiring hospitalisation do not require specialist review
- If you have a reason to suspect a child in Queensland is experiencing harm, or is at risk of experiencing harm, you need to contact Child Safety Services: https://www.communities.qld.gov.au/
- Blood pressure levels for boys and girls by age and height percentile: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/files/docs/guidelines/child_tbl.pdf
- Micturating cystourethrograms are uncommonly required and should not be done routinely with referrals to general paediatrics.
Referral requirements
A referral may be rejected without the following information.
Send referral
Hotline: 1300 364 938
Fax: 1300 364 952
Electronic: eReferral system
Mail: Metro North Central Patient Intake
Aspley Community Centre
776 Zillmere Road
ASPLEY QLD 4034
Health pathways
Access to Health Pathways is free for clinicians in Metro North Brisbane.
For login details email:
healthpathways
Login to Brisbane North Health Pathways:
brisbanenorth.