CULT, (U) ROUTINE

Why Should I Take This Test?

If you have had a urinary tract infection before you know the feeling all too well. No need to suffer longer and take off work to find out. A quick Urine test (culture) will let you know.

Urinary tract infections don't always cause signs and symptoms, but when they do they may include:

• A strong, persistent urge to urinate
• A burning sensation when urinating
• Passing frequent, small amounts of urine
• Urine that appears cloudy
• Urine that appears red, bright pink or cola-colored — a sign of blood in the urine
• Strong-smelling urine
• Pelvic pain, in women — especially in the center of the pelvis and around the area of the pubic bone

UTIs may be overlooked or mistaken for other conditions in older adults.

• Women are at greater risk of developing a UTI than are men.
• Infection limited to your bladder can be painful and annoying. However, serious consequences can occur if a UTI spreads to your kidneys.
• Doctors typically treat urinary tract infections with antibiotics. But you can take steps to reduce your chances of getting a UTI in the first place.

What This Test Does

This culture is designed to quantitate the growth of significant bacteria when collected by the Clean Catch Guidelines or from indwelling catheters. Quantitative culturing of urine is an established tool to differentiate significant bacteruria (bacteria in urine), from contamination introduced during voiding (urination, aka "peeing").

• More than 95% of Urinary Tract Infections (UTI) are attributed to a single organism.
• Infecting organisms are usually present at greater than 100,000 per mL, but a lower density may be clinically important.
• In cases of UTI where more than one organism is present, the predominant organism is usually significant and others are probably urethral or collection contaminants.
• When multiple organisms are isolated from patients with indwelling catheters, UTI is doubtful and colonization likely.

Types of Urinary Tract Infections

Test Prep: None required