What is the sterile pyuria?
Sterile pyuria is a term used to describe a specific results of the urine sample test. It is used when urine sample is negative for infectious organisms, but there are more white blood cells than usual. There are several reasons why a doctor can find sterile pyuria, and in some cases the infectious organism may actually be present. Changes in white blood cell levels are one of the indications of the presence of an infectious disease. The infection may be identified by cultivating the causal microorganisms from the urine.
The official laboratory finding of sterile pyuria can have many potential causes. These range from the contamination of the sample to the presence of cancer. Sterile pyuria is a relatively common laboratory result. Women who seem to have urinary tract infections are the most likely group that has sterile pyuria.
A patient who has been treated in the previous two weeks for existing urinary tract infection may show high levels of white blood cells but absence of microorganisms. Random contamination of the sample with an antiseptic may kill all present microorganisms. Sometimes vaginal white blood cells can be accidentally mixed with urine during sampling, leading to a higher level of cells in the sample than usual. Sometimes urine can be highly diluted due to the intake of lots of fluids, which reduces the levels of infectious microorganisms in the sample itself and reduces the likelihood of culture growth.
Some infectious organisms are not found using standard laboratory cultural techniques. These include sexually transmitted diseases of chlamydia, gonorrhea or trichomoniasis. If the patient has tuberculosis that affects the genitourinary tract, the analysis does not identify it.
non -infectious diseases that can show the high -level of white blood cells in the urine include inflammatory conditions of prostatitis, nephritis or sarcoidosis. Kidney or bladder cancer can also increase white blood cell levels. Kidney stones are another possible cause of sterile pyuria.
If the doctor has suspicionthat sterile pyuria is caused by a disease that requires treatment, can take more samples and order other tests. These tests include genital yield and specific cultivation for sexually transmitted diseases or tests of urine and tuberculosis sampling. The laboratory can also check the urine sample for the presence of other blood cells that indicate the presence of diseases such as nephritis. The sample can also be checked for the presence of antibiotics.