A new scoring method in evaluation of urine samples

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to find a scoring methodbefore carrying out a culture in patients with urinary systeminfections.Methods: The urine samples of 550 patients sent to our laboratorywere cultured with standard methods. Pyuria and bacteriuriawere evaluated with microscopic examination of the urine.Combur 10-Test ® M 100 (Roche Diagnostics GmbH, Mannheim,Germany) was used for leucocyte esterase (LE) and nitrite tests.Symptoms of patients were recorded.Results: Bacterial growth in 68 (12.4%) and contamination in 24(4.4%) cases was detected, while there was no growth in 458(83.3%) cases. Groups of five (symptom, Thoma counting chamber,Gram stain, LE and nitrite), four (symptom, Gram stain, LEand nitrite) and three (symptom, Gram stain and nitrite) parameterswere evaluated. Culture was positive in all 38 patients with2 or more score points in the three-parameter group. Thus, sensitivityof the method was 100% when at least two parameters ofsymptom, Gram stain and nitrite were positive.Conclusions: Three parameters can be a guide for preliminarydiagnosis and empirical therapy before urine culture, althoughthe culture method is still the gold standard in diagnosing urinarysystem infection.