Culture, Urine, Routine

This culture is designed to quantitate the growth of significant bacteria when collected by the Clean Catch Guidelines or from indwelling catheters. Quantitative culturing of urine is an established tool to differentiate significant bacteriuria from contamination introduced during voiding. This test has a reference range of fewer than 1,000 bacteria per mL. More than 95% of Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) are attributed to a single organism. Infecting organisms are usually present at greater than 100,000 per mL, but a lower density may be clinically significant. In cases of UTI where more than one organism is current, the predominant organism is usually substantial, and others are probably urethral or collection contaminants. When multiple microorganisms are isolated from patients with indwelling catheters, UTI is doubtful and colonization likely.