Urine Culture and Sensitivity
Understanding Urine Culture and Sensitivity
What is Urine Culture and Sensitivity?
Culture Urine is a test that can detects the presence of pathogens or harmful microbes in your urine. Pathogens which cause urinary tract infection (UTIs) can enter the urinary system through the urethra, where they multiply and give rise to infection. The common symptoms of UTI are pain while urinating, fever and an urge to urinate frequently. Your doctor might suggest this test, if they suspect a UTI.
If the results are positive for UTI, your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic course.
Please be informed that- " A negative urine culture indicates no signs of microbial infection, hence it will not show sensitivity to various antibiotics."
Urine is the body’s liquid waste made when the kidneys filter out toxins from the blood. It comprises water, salt, electrolytes such as sodium and potassium, and some metabolic end products. The pathway followed by urine from the kidneys to the outside is called the urinary tract. Sometimes, the urinary tract may get infected by some microorganisms, causing a UTI.
The Urine Culture and Sensitivity test is usually done when you experience symptoms of UTI, such as:
- Burning sensation while passing urine
- Back pain
- Lower abdominal pain
- Urinating more often than usual
- Painful or frequent urination
- Blood in the urine, etc., for approximately. 3-4 days and does not subside
This test helps identify infection-causing microorganisms. If the results are positive, the sensitivity test helps determine which drugs (or antibiotics) are likely most effective for treating the infection. On the other hand, a negative urine culture indicates no signs of microbial infection; hence, it will not show sensitivity to various antibiotics.
Before the test, avoid urinating for at least 4 hours before collecting the sample to ensure accurate results. Also, avoid drinking excessive fluids before collecting the urine sample, as it may dilute the urine and affect the results. The doctor may ask you to stop taking certain medications, like antibiotics and supplements, before a Urine Culture and Sensitivity test, as they may affect your test results. A midstream urine sample should be collected into a sterile container provided by the sample collection professional. Women are advised not to give the sample during the menstrual period unless prescribed, as that can interfere with certain test results.
Test result ranges are approximate and may differ slightly between labs depending on the methodology and laboratory guidelines. Talk to your doctor about your specific test results. Narrate your complete medical history to help the doctor correlate your clinical and laboratory findings. The test results will help them determine your medical condition and formulate your treatment plan.
Lifestyle Tips to Prevent Urinary Tract Infection (UTI):
🥤Hydration: Keep it up! Stay hydrated to help flush out bacteria and reduce the likelihood of urinary tract infections (UTIs).
🥙Eat (Diet): Cranberry compounds may help prevent urinary tract infections (UTIs)
🚴Activity (Exercise): Pelvic floor exercises, also known as Kegel exercises, help strengthen the muscles that help empty the bladder.
👨⚕️Talk to Your Doctor (Consult): If you have persistent UTI symptoms or are at high risk, consult your doctor about taking a urine culture test.
💊Habits (Antibiotics): Do not self-medicate. Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics to treat a UTI.
What is Urine Culture and Sensitivity used for?
· To detect and diagnose a urinary tract infection (UTI) in the presence of symptoms such as burning sensation during urination, increased frequency of urination, pain in abdomen, fever, blood in urine etc.
· To screen for urinary tract infections in the first trimester of pregnancy
What does Urine Culture and Sensitivity measure?
The urine culture & sensitivity test is performed to detect and diagnose a microbial infection of the urinary tract. The metabolic processes in the body produce products called metabolites which are present in the blood. Some of them are utilized by cells, while others are wastes which are filtered out of the blood by the kidneys in urine. Urine produced by the kidneys passes through ureters into the urinary bladder where it is stored until the urinary bladder is full. Once full, the urinary bladder releases the urine through another tube called urethra to the outside of the body. The pathway followed by urine from the kidneys to the outside is called the urinary tract. The urinary tract may be infected by some microorganisms causing various conditions. Urine is normally sterile, but if urinary tract infection occurs, the pathogenic microorganism may be found in urine. A urine sample is collected and cultured to detect such an infection and to identify the microorganism causing it.
The collected urine sample is placed on an agar medium (nutrient solution mixed with agarose gel) and incubated at body temperature for 24 to 48 hours. This allows the growth of the microorganisms in the sample if any. Growing microorganisms form different types of colonies on the agar which are studied further in a laboratory to determine the exact microbe causing the UTI.
Once the pathogen is identified, antibiotic susceptibility test is performed to guide treatment for the UTI being tested for. This may be done in two ways. The conventional method involves the use of small filter paper discs with antibiotic of known concentration and placing them on agar plate where the pathogen is cultured. The antibiotic creates a small area around the discs where the microorganisms do not form colonies. The radius of this zone is measured to estimate the efficacy and strength of that antibiotic in treating the UTI. The other method involves an automated machine to detect the sensitivity pattern to find out which antibiotic can be used to treat the infection.
Interpreting Urine Culture and Sensitivity results
Interpretations
Negative result: No colonies to less than 1,00,000 CFU/ml (Colony Forming Units)
Positive result:
· Usually more than 1,00,000 CFU/ml
· Patient undergoing antibiotic treatment: More than 1,000 CFU/ml
· For gram-positive bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus: Single colony
The negative result indicates no infection of the urinary tract.
The positive result indicates an infection of the urinary tract. The positive result is accompanied by an antibiotic susceptibility test.
In an uncontaminated sample, only a single type of colony is found and indicates a clinically significant positive result. However, if multiple colonies of different types are found, a sample contamination is indicated and the sample may need to be collected again.
Frequently Asked Questions about Urine Culture and Sensitivity
Q. What are the risk factors for development of UTI?
Q. What are Upper UTI and Lower UTI?
Q. Is there any preparation required before the Urine culture test?
Q. How is Urine culture test performed?
Q. Is there any risk associated with Urine Culture test?
Q. What additional tests can be prescribed by your doctor in case of abnormal Urine culture test result?
Q. What can affect the Urine culture test results?
Q. What are the common UTI causing microorganisms?
Q. What are the common symptoms of UTI?
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