KOH (potassium hydroxide) in urine refers to its use in microscopic examination to help identify fungal elements, particularly Candida species, which can be a cause of urinary tract infections.
Here's a breakdown:
-
KOH Purpose: KOH is used in a urine microscopy preparation as a clearing agent. It dissolves cellular debris and non-fungal elements, making it easier to visualize fungal structures like yeast cells or hyphae under a microscope.
-
Why is it Used? Candida is a common cause of urinary tract infections, especially in infants and immunocompromised individuals. A urine culture is often performed to identify the causative organism, but a KOH preparation can provide a rapid, preliminary indication of a fungal infection.
-
How it Works: A drop of urine is mixed with a drop of KOH solution on a microscope slide. The KOH lyses (breaks down) most cells in the urine sample, leaving behind the more resistant fungal elements. This makes it easier to see Candida yeast cells or hyphae.
-
Example: If a doctor suspects a Candida urinary tract infection, they might order a urinalysis with a KOH preparation. If the microscopic examination reveals fungal elements after KOH treatment, it supports the diagnosis of a fungal UTI.
In essence, KOH is a reagent used to prepare urine samples for microscopic examination, allowing for better visualization of fungal elements, particularly Candida, to aid in the diagnosis of fungal urinary tract infections.
