A urinary tract infection (UTI) is typically confirmed through laboratory testing of a urine sample. The two main tests used are a urinalysis and a urine culture with antimicrobial susceptibility testing.
Urinalysis
A urinalysis involves a group of physical, chemical, and microscopic tests performed on a urine sample. According to the reference, urinalysis helps to detect evidence of infection.
- Purpose: A urinalysis is a preliminary test used to screen for signs of a UTI.
- What it looks for:
- Bacteria: Presence of bacteria in the urine suggests an infection.
- White Blood Cells: Elevated white blood cell count indicates the body is fighting an infection.
Urine Culture with Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing
If the urinalysis suggests a UTI, a urine culture is usually performed.
- Purpose: A urine culture identifies the specific type of bacteria causing the infection. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing determines which antibiotics will be most effective in treating the infection.
- Process:
- A urine sample is placed in a special medium to allow bacteria to grow.
- The bacteria are identified.
- Different antibiotics are tested to see which ones kill or inhibit the growth of the bacteria.
- Importance: This test is crucial for guiding antibiotic selection and preventing antibiotic resistance.
In summary, a UTI is confirmed through a combination of a urinalysis (to detect signs of infection) and a urine culture with antimicrobial susceptibility testing (to identify the bacteria and determine the best antibiotic treatment).
