GPAC: Guidelines and Protocols Advisory Committee

Macroscopic and Microscopic Urinalysis and the Investigation of Urinary Tract Infections

Effective Date: April 22, 2009

Summary | Flow Sheet | Patient Guide | Full Guideline in PDF

Recommendations and Topics

Scope

Diagnosis/Investigation

Testing

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) Suspected

UTI Suspected - Conditional Request for Culture

Rationale & Follow up Care

References

Scope

The purpose of this protocol is to avoid unnecessary testing in routine cases of urinary tract infection (UTI) while supporting physicians to order tests justified by the patient’s clinical condition in special cases.

This protocol applies to:

• samples analysed in a physician’s office or referred to a laboratory for routine analysis of urine; and
  
• midstream samples referred for urine culture or conditional requests for culture in patients with suspected urinary tract infections.
  

This protocol does not apply to individuals under 19 years of age, catheter or bagged specimens, or suprapubic aspirations.

Diagnosis/Investigation

Negative macroscopic-screened urines (dipsticks) do not routinely require microscopic examination of urine sediment. However, microscopic examination of urine sediment may be warranted under the following conditions:^1,2

a) when macroscopic examination is positive for any of the following: blood (Hb), protein (greater than trace), nitrite, leukocyte esterase, turbidity, or glucose concentration greater than 55 mmol/l;

b) special case: patients presenting with a condition where the clinical record justifies further investigation such as³:

Testing

Choices for urinalysis on the lab requisition form in British Columbia include:

Laboratories may perform a microscopic urinalysis without a preceding macroscopic urinalysis (dipstick) when:

• ‘positive macroscopic result’ was obtained in the physician’s office; or,
  
• the physician has requested an order for a urine culture, conditional on the results of the microscopic analysis.
  

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) Suspected

If an uncomplicated UTI is suspected in a patient with classic symptoms and treatment is not conditional on culture or sensitivity results (i.e. if antibiotics have been prescribed), then no further testing is necessary. ^4,5,6,7 If an uncomplicated UTI is suspected in a patient with classic symptoms and treatment is conditional on culture or sensitivity, then ‘urine culture’ alone should be requested.

If ‘urine culture’ and any combination of macroscopic and/or microscopic urinalysis are ordered, urinalysis and urine culture will be performed regardless of the results of macroscopic and/or microscopic urinalysis. If ‘urine culture’ is requested without an accompanying request for urinalysis, a urine culture will be performed.

UTI Suspected - Conditional Request for Culture

Rationale & Follow up Care

In uncomplicated community-acquired UTI, culture is rarely required when antibiotics are being prescribed. Furthermore, follow-up cultures are not routinely indicated in asymptomatic patients with uncomplicated urinary tract infections.

References

1. Jackson M. Evidence-based practice for evaluation and management of female urinary tract infections. Urol Nur 2007;27(2):133-136.
2. Ebell M. Treating Adult Women with Suspected UTI . Am Fam Physician 2006; 73(2):293-296.
3. Menhart-Kay S. Diagnosis and Management of Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infections. Am Fam Physician 2005;72(3):451-456.
4. Nickel J. Management of Urinary Tract Infections: Historical Perspective and Current Strategies: Part 2- Modern Management. J of Urol 2005;173:27-32.
5. Conrad dos Santos J, Weber LP, Perez LRR. Evaluation of Urinalysis Parameters to Predict Urrinary Tract Infection. Braz J Infect Dis 2007;11(5):479-481.
6. Car J. Urinary Tract Infection in Women: diagnosis and management in primary care. BMJ 2006;332:94-97.
7. Grude N, Tventen Y, Jenkins A. et al. Uncomplicated urinary tract infections: Bacterial findings and efficacy of empirical antibacterial treatment. Scand J Prim Health Care 2005;23:115-119.

This guideline is based on scientific evidence current as of the Effective Date.

This guideline was developed by the Guidelines and Protocols Advisory Committee, approved by the British Columbia Medical Association and adopted by the Medical Services Commission.

Disclaimer

The Clinical Practice Guidelines (the "Guidelines") have been developed by the Guidelines and Protocols Advisory Committee on behalf of the Medical Services Commission. The Guidelines are intended to give an understanding of a clinical problem, and outline one or more preferred approaches to the investigation and management of the problem. The Guidelines are not intended as a substitute for the advice or professional judgment of a health care professional, nor are they intended to be the only approach to the management of clinical problems.

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