http://www.fpnotebook.com/

Urine Culture

Aka: Urine Culture

Collection
1. Sterile Methods
  1. Catheterized Urine
  2. Suprapubic Tap
2. Clean Methods
  1. Clean Catch Urine Collection
  2. Bag Urine Collection
Specimen handling
1. Volume: 5 ml (0.2 ml minimum)
2. First morning void is ideal specimen
3. Deliver to lab or refrigerate within 30 minutes
Interpretation: Clean Voided Specimen
1. Normal: <10,000 organisms per ml
2. Urinary Tract Infection
  1. Boys
    1. Organisms >10,000 per ml suggests UTI likely
  2. Girls
    1. Organisms >100,000 per ml suggests UTI
      1. Three specimens: 95% probability of UTI
      2. Two specimens: 90% probability of UTI
      3. One specimen: 80% probability of UTI
    2. Organisms >10,000 per ml needs repeat Urine Culture
Interpretation: Transurethral Catheterization
1. Normal: <1,000 organisms per ml
2. Urinary Tract Infection
  1. Organisms >10,000 per ml suggests UTI
  2. Organisms >1,000 per ml needs repeat Urine Culture
Interpretation: Suprapubic aspiration in infants
1. Gram Negative Bacilli: any number suggests UTI (99%)
2. Gram Positive Cocci: >1-2,000 suggests UTI (99%)
References
1. Hellerstein (1982) Pediatr Infect Dis 1:271-81

Family Practice Notebook

Patients should address specific medical concerns with their physicians.

Although access to this page is not restricted, the information found here is intended for use by medical providers.

This page was written by Scott Moses, MD, last revised on 10/21/2007 and last published on 5/14/2013.

This is one of 5887 pages in the Family Practice Notebook