Urine Culture Test - An Overview

What Is a Urine Culture Test?

Urine is nothing but the body’s waste that is formed by the kidneys after the filtration of the blood. A urine culture test is done to check for bacteria in the urine because they elevate the risk of UTIs. This test also helps detect the exact bacterial strain that caused the infection. Culture is a medical term to describe the growth of microorganisms, mainly bacteria, in a laboratory setup. A urine culture test is a laboratory test because growth-promoting substances are added to the laboratory. After the addition of the growth-promoting substances, the bacteria and other pathogens in the urine start multiplying, implying that the person is suffering from a urinary tract infection or other urologic abnormalities.

Why Is a Urine Culture Test Done?

Doctors recommend urine culture tests to check for urinary tract infections (UTIs). A UTI is an infection due to the bacterial invasion of the urinary tract. The urinary tract is well protected from bacterial infections by the immune cells. However, the problem arises when these bacteria gain access to the urinary tract organs. Sometimes, they might enter through the urethra or the ureters and infect the kidneys. Mostly, it has been noted that UTIs initiate in the urinary bladder and spread to the kidneys or prostate gland. A urine culture also helps the doctor identify the bacteria and yeast causing the infection. The doctor can choose an effective treatment and determine if the bacteria are resistant to the particular antibiotics.

Who Might Need a Urine Culture Test?

The doctor might recommend that patients suffering from severe or recurrent UTIs undergo a urine culture test. People who have had UTI symptoms need to undergo a urine culture test. Though UTIs can affect anyone, females are more likely to suffer from them. The factors that elevate UTI risk are listed below:

• Diabetes.

• Frequent sexual intercourse or having multiple sexual partners.

• People suffering from kidney diseases, including kidney stones.

• Problems related to urine drainage. For example, people using a catheter for prolonged periods are more vulnerable to urinary tract infections.

• People having a weak immune system due to organ transplants, autoimmune diseases, and cancer therapy.

How Should the Patient Prepare for the Urine Culture Test?

The doctor will describe the procedure before the patient takes the test. The patient must inform the doctor if the patient is taking any medications or other supplements as they might interfere with the test results. The doctor might ask the patient:

• Not to urinate an hour before giving the urine sample.

• Drink eight glasses of water 20 minutes before the procedure to ensure that there is sufficient urine for collection.

• Collect the urine sample immediately in the morning.

What Happens During the Urine Culture Test?

A urine culture test is usually done using the clean catch urine sample method. The urine sample must be free from contaminants, including the normal bacteria on the skin. The patient might provide this sample at the doctor’s office or a laboratory. The patient can also collect a urine sample at home. The steps of urine sample collection are listed below:

• The patient must wash the hands with soap and water.

• The females must clean the vaginal opening or the vulva, and the males must clean their penis head with an antiseptic wipe.

• Urinate and stop the urine midstream.

• Place a small cup near the vulva or the penis, but do not allow it to touch the skin.

• Collect the recommended amount of urine in the cup.

• Stop urinating and hold the cup away.

• Place the lid of the cup, wash the hands and send the collected sample safely to the laboratory.

What Are Some of the Different Methods by Which the Urine Sample Can Be Collected?

Normally, the patient collects the urine sample, but the problem arises for infants, children, and adults who are critically and cannot collect their urine samples. As a result, the doctor might use any one of the following methods:

1. Catheterization - It is a procedure wherein the doctor inserts a thin and flexible tube known as the catheter in the urinary bladder. A sterile collection bag is attached at one end of the catheter to collect the urine.

2. Aspiration - In this procedure, the doctor inserts a thin needle into the urinary bladder through the abdominal skin to collect the urine in a sterile bag.

3. Urine Bag - This method is especially preferred for infants and children. A urine collection bag is attached with a sticky adhesive to the penis or vulva. After the child urinates, the parents empty their urine into a container. Make sure that the container is kept in a refrigerator unless it is sent to the laboratory for examination under a microscope.

What Does a Positive Urine Culture Test Indicate?

If the urine culture test shows bacterial growth and the patient has symptoms of an infection or bladder inflammation, the patient has a UTI. If the urine culture test is positive, the laboratory technician conducts an antibiotic sensitivity test on the bacteria in the urine culture sample. This test is also known as the antibiotic susceptibility test because it helps the bacteria causing infection and to which antibiotic the bacteria are susceptible. Some antibiotics work against a certain specific bacterium, and some bacteria resist those antibiotics.

What Does a Negative Urine Culture Test Indicate?

A negative urine culture test usually indicates that the urine sample did not show any signs of bacterial or yeast growth. It is an indication that the patient does not have any urinary tract infection. However, the doctor might recommend additional imaging tests if the patient has other symptoms like painful urination or blood in the urine.

What Are the Risks of a Urine Culture Test?

A urine culture test is not a painful procedure unless the patient experiences pain symptoms while passing urine because of urinary tract infections. The patient need not worry as there are no risks associated with the preparation or the procedure steps. If the doctor recommends the patient undergo the test with the help of a catheter, the patient might feel some pain and discomfort, which subsides after the procedure is completed. There are fewer chances of a catheter creating a bladder or urethra hole. The patient can consult the doctor to learn ways to reduce pain while urinating.

Conclusion

A urine culture test specifically looks for bacteria that cause UTIs. People suffering from UTIs must undergo antibiotic sensitivity tests to determine the bacteria. The information available from these tests allows the doctor to choose the best medications. So, the patient must notify the symptoms of a UTI and consult the doctor at the earliest to learn about the urine culture test and its importance.