High Prevalence of Sexually Transmitted Diseases in Women with Urinary Infections

Objective: To determine the prevalence and factors associated with unrecognized sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in women who had pelvic examinations and were subsequently released from the ED with a sole diagnosis of urinary tract infection (UTI).
Methods: A 3-month retrospective chart review was performed in an urban teaching hospital ED (>70,000 visits/year). Women aged 12–45 years who had pelvic examinations and were released from the ED with a sole diagnosis of UTI were included. Patient complaints, physical findings, and laboratory results were reviewed. Laboratory evaluations included the complete blood count, urinalysis, urine pregnancy test, and cervical cultures for Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis and Trichomonas.
Results: Of the 94 women who met study criteria, 53% had proven STDs (19% N. gonorrhoeae 22% C. trachornaris 33% Trichomonas). There was no difference between the patients with positive and negative tests for STDs with regard to complaints, physical findings, and laboratory results (all p > 0.05).
Conclusions: Women undergoing pelvic examinations who are subsequently released, from this urban ED with the diagnosis of UTI have a high (>50%) prevalence of occult STDs. No complaint, physical finding, or laboratory result reviewed was associated with the risk of an STD. Consideration should be given to empirical antibiotic therapy in similar urban populations.     

Assessment of confirmed urinary tract infection in patients treated with dalfampridine for multiple sclerosis

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) were reported frequently with dalfampridine extended-release (dalfampridine-ER) 10 mg relative to placebo in previous multiple sclerosis (MS) studies. The objective of this study was to determine whether dalfampridine-ER is associated with increased incidence of confirmed UTIs in MS patients. This post hoc analysis used UTI data from a study comparing the 4-week safety and efficacy of 5 mg (n = 144) and 10 mg (n = 142) twice-daily dalfampridine-ER versus placebo (n = 143). To confirm UTIs, three clinical assessments were used: standard urinalysis (leukocytes > 5/high-power field); urine culture (≥ 100,000 and ≥ 10,000 colony-forming units [CFUs]/mL) for those who reported UTIs as adverse events (AEs) or had positive urinalysis; and UTI symptomatology. Fisher’s exact test assessed statistical significance. The proportion of patients who reported UTIs as AEs in the placebo and dalfampridine-ER 5 mg and 10 mg groups were 5.6%, 6.3%, and 9.9%, respectively. In comparison, those with laboratory-confirmed UTIs were lower: ≥ 100,000 CFUs/mL: 4.2%, 2.8%, and 2.8%; and ≥ 10,000 CFUs/mL: 4.2%, 3.5%, and 4.9%, respectively (no significant statistical difference across treatments). The proportion of patients with confirmed UTI was similar between dalfampridine-ER and placebo, thus suggesting that the treatment does not increase the risk of UTIs.     

Urinary tract infection as a possible marker for teenage sex

BACKGROUND: Pediatric urinary tract infections (UTIs) are markers for genitourinary reflux or obstruction. Adult UTIs are treated by telephone triage without microbiologic study. The contrast between pediatric and adult UTIs prompted our retrospective review of adolescent UTIs. METHODS: Ninety-six adolescent girls without chronic illness, urogenital abnormalities, pregnancy, enuresis, or constipation had urine cultures with 100,000 colonies/mm3. RESULTS: The 32 patients who were initially sexually active continued sexual activity (75%), became pregnant (25%), and had subsequent sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) (13%). There were no pregnancies, STDs, or subsequent UTIs in 9 patients who were not initially sexually active. The 55 patients with no documentation of sexual activity were comparable to those who were initially sexually active: 66% had evidence of sexual activity; 20% had subsequent pregnancy; 14% had subsequent STDs; and 42% had UTI recurrence. CONCLUSION: Adolescents with UTIs have a significant frequency of sexual activity. Information about responsible sexual activity and access to care is important to adolescents, particularly those with UTIs.     

Validity of urinalysis and microscopy for detecting urinary tract infection in the emergency department.

This study assessed the validity of standard urinalysis, urinalysis for leucocyte esterase and nitrites, and urgent microscopy in the diagnosis of urinary tract infection (UTI) in 60 female patients with a triage diagnosis of UTI. There were 24 (40%) proven UTIs after culture. Simple urinalysis was sensitive for UTI (95.8%) but the positive predictive value was only 45.1%. The addition of leucocyte esterase and nitrite urinalysis testing did not improve the sensitivity, but if both of these were positive the positive predictive value improved to 100%. Urgent microscopy alone was sensitive (100%) but non-specific (38.9%). The specificity of the diagnosis improved to 94.4% for organism counts of >or=10/microl and to 88.9% for leucocyte counts of >or=50/microl. The negative predictive value of no detectable leucocytes on microscopy was 94.7%. Screening for UTI in the emergency department (ED) population is improved by the addition of leucocyte esterase and nitrite test. A positive urinalysis test for leucocytes and nitrites, or urinalysis positive at levels of >or=500 leucocytes or >or=5 g/l protein should confirm a clinical diagnosis of UTI. Urgent urine microscopy should be performed only if the above criteria are not met yet a minimum of one urinalysis result is positive.     

The Presence of Urinary Nitrites Is a Significant Predictor of Pediatric Urinary Tract Infection Susceptibility to First- and Third-Generation Cephalosporins

Background: Previous studies in adults have refuted the use of nitrites as a predictor of bacterial resistance to both trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and cephalosporins. Some centers now consider first-line outpatient therapy with an oral third-generation cephalosporin appropriate for young children. Objective: The objective of this study was to determine if nitrite-negative pediatric urinary tract infections (UTIs) were more likely than nitrite-positive UTIs to be resistant to cephalosporins. This may enable physicians to adjust antimicrobial therapy before patients leave the Emergency Department (ED) to avoid the complications of ineffectively treated pediatric UTIs. Methods: A retrospective chart review examined, over a 9-month period, 173 pediatric patients who were diagnosed with a clinical UTI in the ED and who also had a positive urine culture and a recorded dipstick at the time of visit. The chi-squared test and Fisher's exact test were used to compare nitrite-negative vs. nitrite-positive UTIs for resistance to third-generation cephalosporins and other empiric antimicrobials. Results: For third-generation cephalosporins, 1.4% of nitrite-positive UTIs were resistant, whereas 14.4% of nitrite-negative UTIs were resistant (95% confidence interval [CI] −0.22 to −0.05). For first-generation cephalosporins, 8.4% were resistant in the nitrite-positive group, compared to 22.2% in the nitrite-negative group (95% CI −0.24 to −0.03). Conclusion: The absence of urinary nitrites is a significant indicator for potential resistance to cephalosporins in pediatric UTIs. Due to low levels of pediatric UTI resistance, cephalosporins continue to represent useful empiric therapy in the general pediatric population. However, in high-risk patients, physicians may opt to alter their empiric choice of antibiotic based on the presence of urinary nitrites.     

Rapid urinalysis assays for the diagnosis of urinary tract infection

Urinary tract infection (UTI) in premenopausal women is a frequent complaint in general practice. UTI is usually diagnosed on the basis of clinical symptoms and the use of one or more laboratory tests, the most common being rapid urinalysis reagent assays (urine dip) or midstream urine culture. In order to correlate the leucocyte esterase results of a rapid urinalysis assay with direct urine microscopy for pyuria, undiluted non-centrifuged urine samples from 206 volunteer female healthcare professionals were subjected to analysis using direct urine microscopy using a counting chamber and a rapid urinalysis assay. Of the 206 specimens, 74 were positive for leucocyte esterase using the rapid urinalysis assay, and 39 specimens demonstrated significant pyuria (greater than or equal to 10 leucocytes/microl) on direct microscopy. When the leucocyte esterase results were correlated with the direct urine microscopy results, an assay reading of 15 leucocytes/microl ('trace' on the visual scale) had a sensitivity of 91%, specificity of 79%, positive predictive value of 53% and a negative predictive value of 97%. An assay reading of 25 leucocytes/microl ('+' on the visual scale) or greater had a sensitivity of 63%, specificity of 95%, positive predictive value of 75% and a negative predictive value of 91%. In premenopausal, non-pregnant females, a rapid urinalysis assay result of 25 leucocytes/microl or greater will predict significant pyuria on urine microscopy with reasonable confidence, thereby reducing the need for more costly urine cultures.     

Urinary tract infection and dysuria. Cost-conscious evaluation and antibiotic therapy

Recent research into the pathogenesis and treatment of urinary tract infection (UTI) clearly indicates that our traditional approach has overestimated the need for extensive evaluation and prolonged antibiotic therapy. The great majority of UTIs can be managed adequately with urinalysis and single-dose or three-day antibiotic regimens; only complicated UTIs or those occurring in unusual hosts require cultures and longer courses of treatment.     

Evaluation of the Coral UTI Screen system for rapid automated screening of significant bacteriuria in a regional centralized laboratory

An evaluation of the Coral UTI screen system (Coral Biotechnology, San Diego, CA) compared to urinalysis/urine culture was done to assess its performance for rapidly screening a high volume of urine samples for significant bacteriuria in a regional central microbiology laboratory. A total of 1094 urine samples from ambulatory patients were evaluated. 670 (61.2%) urine samples were negative or positive [178 (16.3%)] by both methods. 217 (19.8%) other samples were UTI screen positive but had either no growth or no uropathogens on culture; 9 of these samples were possibly false negative by culture because of the presence of pyuria, indicating the presence of either a urinary tract infection or another inflammatory process. Another 29 (2.7%) samples had false negative screens because the urine culture was positive, but only 5 of these patients were treated with antibiotics after urine specimen collection. Overall, the Coral UTI screen has a sensitivity of 86.0%, a specificity of 75.5% and a positive and negative predictive value of 45.0% and 95.9% respectively. Routine use of the UTI screen would allow same day reporting of 65% of all urine culture results without having to proceed to culture.     

Diagnostic evaluation for infectious etiology of sickle cell pain crisis

Occult infections during sickle cell pain crisis can be associated with significant morbidity. It has been suggested that empiric workup for pneumonia and urinary tract infection (UTI) is required. A study was undertaken to determine whether clinical criteria can be used to exclude such infections as precipitants of pain crisis in adults. This retrospective, observational clinical study was conducted in an inner-city teaching hospital emergency department (ED) with 95,000 visits/year. Patients 18 years of age or older presenting to the ED with sickle cell pain crisis who had not used antipyretics within 6 hours before presentation were eligible. Ninety-four visits were evaluated. During initial evaluation the treating physician completed a questionnaire addressing systemic, pulmonary, and urinary tract signs and symptoms, Temperature and physical examination were recorded on an ED memo. Treatment modalities were at the discretion of the treating physician. All patients had a complete blood count, reticulocyte count, urinalysis, and chest radiograph. If the urinalysis was positive (>2 white blood cells) or the patient had clinical evidence of a UTI, a urine culture was obtained. UTI was confirmed through a urine culture with >100,000 colony-forming units/mL. Chest X-rays were reviewed by a staff radiologist. Definitive diagnosis of pneumonia was made by the presence of an infiltrate and a positive clinical response to antibiotic therapy. Thirty-eight patients totalling 94 visits to the ED were studied during an 18-month period. Six diagnoses of pneumonia and 3 diagnoses of UTI were made. All six patients with pneumonia had at least 4 of the signs and symptoms including fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, sputum production, chest pain, hemoptysis, abnormal pulmonary examination, and temperature of >37.8°C. Of the three patients with UTI, two had signs and symptoms inconsistent with UTI (asymptomatic bacteriuria). In patients with sickle cell pain crisis, medical history and physical examination can be useful to predict the absence of pneumonia, but may not be as beneficial in predicting the absence of UTI. These results suggest that empiric chest x-ray may be unnecessary to exclude pneumonia; however, routine urinalysis may be indicated. Because of the low incidence of these infections, larger studies are required to confirm these findings.     

Management of urinary tract infections in children in an era of increasing antimicrobial resistance

Introduction: Accurate diagnosis and appropriate use of antimicrobials for treatment and prevention of urinary tract infections (UTIs) is vital in an era of increasing antibiotic resistance.

Areas covered: The article reviews indications for and interpretation of urinalysis and urine culture results for diagnosis of UTI, choice of antibiotics for empiric and definitive UTI therapy, the rationale behind and indications for radiographic investigations, and prevention of UTIs including the complex decision as to whether antibiotic prophylaxis will benefit a child.

Expert commentary: Over-diagnosis of UTI is a prevalent problem due to the lack of specificity of both urinalysis and urine culture. The most major recent advance in the field has been the recognition that antibiotic prophylaxis for UTI is rarely indicated as in most situations, the number needed to treat to prevent one UTI is too high to justify the risk of adverse events and development of antimicrobial resistance.     

Urinary tract infection in renal transplant recipients

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is common in renal transplant recipients. Frequency of UTIs depend on many factors such as age, female gender, kidney function, co-morbidity, type and amount of immunosuppression, urological instrumentation and/or the follow-up period (short term or long term) after kidney transplantation. UTI may worsen graft and patient survival. A significant proportion of renal transplant recipients with UTIs may develop acute pyelonephritis (APN), which is an independent risk factor for deterioration of graft function. Renal transplant recipients with UTIs are often clinically asymptomatic as a consequence of immunosuppression. UTI, however, may progress to APN (particularly in the early post-transplant period), bacteraemia and the full blown picture of urosepsis. Strategies for long term prophylaxis and antimicrobial treatment of UTI in renal transplant recipients are discussed.     

Two Simple Rules for Improving the Accuracy of Empiric Treatment of Multidrug-Resistant Urinary Tract Infections

The emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) uropathogens is making the treatment of urinary tract infections (UTIs) more challenging. We sought to evaluate the accuracy of empiric therapy for MDR UTIs and the utility of prior culture data in improving the accuracy of the therapy chosen. The electronic health records from three U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs facilities were retrospectively reviewed for the treatments used for MDR UTIs over 4 years. An MDR UTI was defined as an infection caused by a uropathogen resistant to three or more classes of drugs and identified by a clinician to require therapy. Previous data on culture results, antimicrobial use, and outcomes were captured from records from inpatient and outpatient settings. Among 126 patient episodes of MDR UTIs, the choices of empiric therapy against the index pathogen were accurate in 66 (52%) episodes. For the 95 patient episodes for which prior microbiologic data were available, when empiric therapy was concordant with the prior microbiologic data, the rate of accuracy of the treatment against the uropathogen improved from 32% to 76% (odds ratio, 6.9; 95% confidence interval, 2.7 to 17.1; P < 0.001). Genitourinary tract (GU)-directed agents (nitrofurantoin or sulfa agents) were equally as likely as broad-spectrum agents to be accurate (P = 0.3). Choosing an agent concordant with previous microbiologic data significantly increased the chance of accuracy of therapy for MDR UTIs, even if the previous uropathogen was a different species. Also, GU-directed or broad-spectrum therapy choices were equally likely to be accurate. The accuracy of empiric therapy could be improved by the use of these simple rules.     

Urinary tract infections in women

Urinary tract infections in female patients are exceedingly common. One third of all women with an initial UTI demonstrate recurrence, and one third of those recurrences are in the first 6 months. The potential morbidity of RUTIs is high, especially in infants, the elderly, and pregnant patients. Uropathogenic bacteria reside in the rectal vault, colonize the vagina, and then ascend per the urethra into the bladder. These bacteria avidly adhere to uroepithelial cells using pili and can further ascend to the kidneys. Empiric treatment of an initial uncomplicated UTI is acceptable, but recurrences warrant a urine culture and possible radiographic evaluation. Fluoroquinolones are now first-line medications for UTIs, except in geographic areas where resistance to TMP-SMX is still low. Response to therapy should govern the need for additional treatment. Certain motivated patients with three or more UTIs per year should be considered for prophylaxis therapy.     

尿液流水线分析系统联合显微镜检对尿路感染的诊断价值

目的探讨Sysmex UC-3500尿干化学分析仪(简称UC-3500)与UF-5000尿沉渣分析仪(简称UF-5000)的相关参数联合尿沉渣显微镜检在诊断尿路感染(UTI)中的应用价值。方法对该院2021年2—3月1 036例患者的清洁中段尿进行尿干化学分析、流式尿沉渣分析及尿离心显微镜检,另送尿培养鉴定,以尿培养结果作为"金标准",分析尿中性粒细胞酯酶(LEU)、白细胞计数(WBC)、细菌计数(BACT)3项指标联合显微镜检诊断UTI的灵敏度、特异度、符合率。结果 1 036例尿标本中299例(28.86%)尿培养阳性,其中革兰阳性菌162例,革兰阴性菌108例,革兰染色不定的细菌仪器7例(阴道加德纳菌),真菌21例。仪器LEU+WBC+BACT 3项指标联合、显微镜检以及显微镜检联合仪器UTI报警诊断UTI的曲线下面积(AUC)分别为0.635、0.698和0.761;将显微镜检联合UF-5000的仪器UTI报警后,其诊断UTI的符合率由72.18%升高至79.90%。UF-5000的细菌革兰染色分型对革兰阴性菌的符合率(78.82%)高于革兰阳性菌的符合率(47.06%)。类酵...     

Can routine automated urinalysis reduce culture requests?

ObjectivesThere are a substantial number of unnecessary urine culture requests. We aimed to investigate whether urine dipstick and microscopy results could accurately rule out urinary tract infection (UTI) without urine culture.Design and methodsThe study included a total of 32 998 patients (11 928 men and 21 070 women, mean age: 39 ± 32 years) with a preliminary diagnosis of UTI and both urinalysis and urinary culture were requested. All urine cultures were retrospectively reviewed; association of culture positivity with a positive urinalysis result for leukocyte esterase (LE) and nitrite in chemical analysis and pyuria (WBC) and bacteriuria in microscopy was determined. Diagnostic performance of urinalysis parameters for detection of UTI was evaluated.ResultsIn total, 758 (2.3%) patients were positive by urine culture. Out of these culture positive samples, ratios of positive dipstick results for LE and nitrite were 71.0% (n = 538) and 17.7% (n = 134), respectively. The positive microscopy results for WBC and bacteria were 68.2% (n = 517) and 78.8% (n = 597), respectively. Negative predictive values for LE, nitrite, bacteriuria and WBC were very close to 100%.ConclusionsMost of the samples have no or insignificant bacterial growth. Urine dipstick and microscopy can accurately rule out UTI. Automated urinalysis is a practicable and faster screening test which may prevent unnecessary culture requests for majority of patients.     

Emergency physicians' patterns of treatment for presumed gonorrhea and chlamydia in women: one center's practice

No indicator reliably predicts if a woman has gonorrhea or chlamydia (sexually transmitted diseases [STDs]) during an Emergency Department (ED) visit. Before culture results return, emergency physicians (EPs) must choose whom to treat. We evaluated EP treatment of STDs within our institution. EPs voluntarily completed anonymous surveys while evaluating women requiring both a pelvic examination and STD cultures, except for sexual assault victims. The questionnaires asked for patients' demographics, history, physical examination, and in-ED laboratory tests, and whether any particular section of the encounter caused treatment. The treated and untreated groups' characteristics, as reported by the examining physicians, were compared. There were 145 questionnaires returned over a 6-month period; 41/145 patients (28%) were treated for presumed STD—28 (68%) based on physical examination, 8 (19.5%) on history, and 5 (12.5%) on in-ED laboratory tests. Comparison of treated vs. untreated groups revealed no difference in patient demographics. The treated group had more historical positives (3.92 vs. 2.84, respectively; p < 0.001) and physical examination findings (3.39 vs. 1.24, respectively; p < 0.001) compared to the untreated group. Eleven patients (7.58%) had positive STD cultures, 4 (9.75%) in the treated group and 7 (6.73%) in the untreated group (p > 0.05). In our institution, EPs chose to treat patients with more historical and physical examination findings, not based on demographics. Our EPs' presumptive STD treatment paradigms do not accurately distinguish patients with positive pelvic culture results from those with negative results, supporting the available literature that describes the difficulty of this diagnosis. Individual EDs must recognize this infection identification problem and, after assessment of their treatment population, institute either a liberal presumptive STD treatment regimen for all comers, or establish reliable and timely follow-up for women left untreated.     

Evidence-Based Management of Urinary Tract Infections Across the Lifespan: Current Update

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common in a busy primary care setting, accounting for approximately 7 million office visits annually. These infections affect all ages and both sexes, with the highest prevalence in women. The key to management of the uncomplicated UTI depends on the correct diagnosis and pharmacologic agent. Other variables to consider when treating UTIs are uropathogen resistance patterns, patient population, and duration of therapy to name a few. This article presents an evidence-based approach to the diagnosis and treatment of UTIs across the lifespan.     

In-out catheterization of young children with suspected urinary tract infection: a retrospective journal study

It is important that pediatric nurses know that the methods they use are reliable and the most appropriate for the child's security and well being. In-out catheterization is a sterile invasive method to obtain a urine sample in young children. To confirm this as a reliable method, a study of medical records from 61 children ages 0 to 24 months with suspected urinary tract infections (UTIs) was performed. Each child had produced both a urine sample from an adhesive bag and a urine sample from in-out catheterization. Dipsticks were taken from both samples; and the methods were compared with kappa analysis. Cultures were obtained from the catheter urine. UTI was verified as a growth in the catheter urine in 32 out of 61 children. Catheterized samples of urine with 3+ or 4+ of leucocytes all had a growth of bacteria in the culture. This examination of medical records showed that in-out catheterization is a reliable method to use to confirm UTIs in children 0 to 24 months.     

Clinical Appraisal of Fosfomycin in the Era of Antimicrobial Resistance

Fosfomycin is recommended as one of the first-line agents for treatment of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in the latest guidelines endorsed by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) and the European Society for Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID). We evaluated the use of fosfomycin among inpatients at a tertiary care hospital between 2009 and 2013. UTI cases were defined using physician diagnosis and the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) surveillance definitions. The number of patients treated with fosfomycin increased from none in 2009 to 391 in 2013. Among 537 patients who received fosfomycin for any indication during this period, UTI was the most common indication (74%), followed by asymptomatic bacteriuria (10%). All except 19 patients received a single dose of fosfomycin. Escherichia coli was the most common organism involved (52%). For 119 patients with UTIs, after exclusion of those with negative urine culture results, negative urinalysis results, receipt of additional agents, or indeterminate clinical outcomes, the clinical success rate at 48 h was 74.8%. Of 89 patients who met the criteria for NHSN-defined UTIs, 89.9% had successful outcomes. Recurrent infections occurred in 4.3% of cases, and mild adverse events were observed in 2.0%. All 100 randomly selected extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing E. coli clinical isolates from this period were susceptible to fosfomycin. In conclusion, the use of fosfomycin has increased substantially since implementation of the updated guidelines at this hospital. Fosfomycin was used mainly for the treatment of physician-diagnosed UTIs, and the clinical outcomes were generally favorable. Fosfomycin maintained activity against E. coli despite the increased use of the agent.     

Urinary tract infections. Does the smell really tell?

Asymptomatic bacteriuria is considered a transient and benign condition in the geriatric population. Before a diagnosis of a urinary tract infection (UTI) can be made, symptoms and significant bacteriuria must be present. One of these symptoms is malodorous urine. Other symptoms of a UTI, typical in the younger population, have been found to be absent or misleading in the older adult population. Though early detection of UTIs improves outcomes, unnecessary laboratory tests are costly and time-consuming, and may encourage inappropriate antibiotic therapy. The purpose of this study was to determine if urine odor is an accurate predictor of a UTI in the older adult incontinent nursing home population. Ninety-seven recently wet incontinence pads of residents in six Midwestern nursing homes were evaluated for odor within 1 hour of voiding. These results were compared to microscopy and culture results of clean-catch urine samples from these individuals. Defining a UTI as either bacteriuria or bacteriuria and pyuria, using urine odor to identify a UTI resulted in error in one third of cases. Results of this study indicate smell of urine in incontinence pads may be an absent or misleading symptom for UTIs in elderly nursing home residents.