A urine culture test can diagnose the cause of a urinary tract infection, and a sensitivity test can help doctors determine the best treatment. The clean catch method is used to collect a urine sample, and abnormal results may indicate an infection. Women, diabetics, and those with urinary tract blockages are at higher risk. Symptoms include pain, cloudy or bloody urine, and fever. Treatment usually involves antibiotics.
A urine culture is a medical laboratory test that doctors can use to investigate the cause of a urinary tract infection. Some doctors also have a patient undergo a type of urine culture test known as a sensitivity test to help them decide on the best course of treatment for a urinary tract infection. People with urinary tract infections may have urine culture tests done to measure the effectiveness of treatment they’ve already received in some cases. In most cases, the clean catch method is used to collect a urine sample for testing, although some patients use a urinary catheter to deliver a urine sample.
Patients typically clean the area around the genitals before sample collection to prevent contamination of a urine sample. When using the clean catch method, a patient often begins by passing a small amount of urine from the urethra into the toilet bowl to flush out any contaminants that may be in the urethra. After flushing the urethra, a patient typically urinates about two ounces (60 mL) of urine into a sterile container and removes the container from the urination stream without interrupting urination.
The patient generally sends the urine sample to a doctor to send it to a laboratory for testing. Abnormal urine culture test results may indicate that a patient has bacterial overgrowth in the urine sample, as well as an active bladder infection or other urinary tract infection. In some cases, patients have false negative results from a urine culture test if they have recently taken antibiotics.
A urinary tract infection is usually a bacterial infection that develops in the bladder, kidneys, or other part of the urinary tract. In most cases, urinary tract infections tend to be caused by bacteria. Women typically have a higher risk of developing a urinary tract infection because they often have a shorter urethra than men. People with diabetes, kidney stones, and bowel incontinence may also be more susceptible to a urinary tract infection. Individuals who have difficulty urinating due to factors such as a blockage of the urinary tract, an enlarged prostate, or pregnancy may have a higher risk of developing a urinary tract infection.
The most common symptoms of a urinary tract infection include pain in the lower abdomen and urine that is cloudy, bloody, or has a strong smell. Some people may develop pain when urinating, low-grade fever, or an increased need to urinate with a urinary tract infection. Infections that spread to the kidneys can cause chills, fatigue, or a fever. Confusion and other mental changes can occur in older people who have kidney infections. Most patients with urinary tract infections are treated with oral antibiotics, and some serious infections can be treated in the hospital with intravenous antibiotics.
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