What is urine culture?

urine culture is a medical laboratory test that doctors can use to explore the cause of urinary tract infection. Some doctors also have a patient subject to a urine culture test known as sensitivity testing to help them decide on the best course of urinary tract infection. People with urinary tract infections can perform urine culture to measure the effectiveness of treatment they have already received in some cases. In most cases, the pure catch method is used to collect urine sample for testing, although some patients use a urinary catheter to provide urine sample. Using a pure catch method often begins with a small amount of urine from the urethra to the toilet bowl to rinse all contaminants that can be in the urethra. After repaying the urethra, the patient usually patients about two ounce (60 ml) into a sterile container and removes the container from the stream of urination without stopping urination.

In general, the patient presents a urine sample to send to the laboratory for testing. Abnormal results of urine culture testing may indicate that the patient has excessive bacterial growth in the urine sample, as well as active bladder infection or other urinary tract infections. In some cases, patients have false negative results from the urine culture test if they recently used antibiotics.

urinary tract infections are generally bacterial infection that develops in the bladder, kidneys or other parts of the urinary path. In most cases, urinary tract infections are caused by bacteria. Women usually have a higher risk of developing urinary tract infection because they often have a short urethra than men. People with diabetes, kidney stones and intestinal incontinence can also be more susceptible to urinary tract infection. Individuals who have difficulty passing urine due to factors such as blocking the urinary path, enlarged prostate or pregnancy moou have a higher risk of developing urinary tract infection.

The common symptoms of urinary tract infection include pain in the lower abdomen and urine that is overcast, bloody or has a strong odor. Some people may develop pain during urination, low degree fever, or increased need to urinate with urinary tract infections. Infections that spread to the kidneys can cause chills, fatigue or increased fever. Elderly people who have kidney infections may occur confusion and other mental changes. Most patients with urinary tract infections receive treatment with oral antibiotics and some serious infections may be treated in hospital by intravenous antibiotics.