Do not diagnose Urinary Tract Infection based on urine cultures alone

Type of practice

Laboratory tests

Topic Area

Paediatrics

Urine culture has to be performed after having a urine sample checked for the presence of leucocytes and/or nitrites, with dipstick, or by microscopic urinalysis, and in some special cases, together with urinoculture. In the absence of a pathologic multistick test or urinalysis it is not possible to evaluate if the eventual positive urine culture is due to a real urinary tract infection, to contamination of the specimen, or to occasional bacteriuria. The clean-catch urine specimen is the most recommended methodology for urine collection (i.e collect a morning urine sample in a sterile container after having thrown away the first stream).

Sources

1. https://www.europeanurology.com/article/S0302-2838(14)01181-6/fulltext
2. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/CG54
3. http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/pediatrics/early/2016/11/24/peds.2016-3026.full.pdf
4. https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/969643-overview

Attention. Please note that these items are provided only for information and are not intended as a substitute for consultation with a clinician. Patients with any specific questions about the items on this list or their individual situation should consult their clinician.