Screening for Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
Main Page | Risk Factors | Symptoms | Diagnosis | Treatment | Screening | Reducing Your Risk | Talking to Your Doctor | Living With UTI | Resource Guide
The purpose of screening is early diagnosis and treatment. Screening tests are usually administered to people without current symptoms, but who may be at high risk for certain diseases or conditions.
Screening Tests
Screening tests for UTI include:
Urine Dip —This test is often performed right in your doctor’s office. A dipstick coated with special chemicals is dipped into the urine sample, and areas on it change color to indicate the presence of blood, pus, bacteria, or other materials. This is a very quick, general test.
Microscopic Urinalysis —The urine is examined under a microscope for the presence and quantity of such things as red blood cells, white blood cells (pus), bacteria, etc. This is a more accurate way to diagnose a urinary tract infection.
Screening Guidelines
There is no consensus as to whether healthy people should be screened for urinary tract infections. At this point, it’s common practice to regularly screen pregnant women in their first trimester of pregnancy. Some doctor's also screen patients with diabetes for urinary tract infections.
In fact, urine dip tests and urinalysis are frequently performed as screening tests for conditions other than UTIs, like during well-child check-ups and other routine adult physical examinations. In the process of using these tests to screen for other conditions, asymptomatic urinary tract infections may be diagnosed. However, these infections do not always need to be treated. Treatment is sometimes required and is often not required.
References:
American Foundation for Urologic Disease website. Available at: http://www.auafoundation.org/auafhome.asp .
Griffith’s 5-Minute Clinical Consult. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2001.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases website. Available at: http://www2.niddk.nih.gov/ .
Last reviewed August 2008 by Jill D. Landis, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Copyright © 2007 EBSCO Publishing All rights reserved.