A Practical Guideline on Sampling and Analysis of Urine and Blood Specimens in Urinary Tract Infections
摘要
A urine specimen for culture should be collected prior to the initiation of antimicrobial therapy in all cases of UTI, except for uncomplicated cystitis where an empirical treatment can be administered without a urine culture. The universally accepted diagnostic criterion for a urinary tract infection based on a voided specimen is ≥105 CFU/mL of a single Gram-negative organism. A urine culture sample should be taken after catheter replacement in case of CAUTI. In uncomplicated infections of the upper urinary tract, urine analysis and urine culture are strongly recommended. In all patients with fever or suspected sepsis, a blood culture is strongly recommended. The aim of this chapter is to provide practical guidelines on sampling of urine and blood specimens in urinary tract infections and to give an introduction to the diagnostic verification of urinary tract infection by culture tests and urinalysis.