Rapid diagnosis of urinary tract infection using a simple photometer.
A photometric method which detects bacterial multiplication in urine is described. The apparatus is both inexpensive and easy to use, and results are obtained within four hours. A total of 217 urine specimens from 181 patients were assessed and the results compared with the corresponding laboratory tests, which showed a significant growth in 102 specimens. The sensitivity and specificity of the photometric method was 77% and 99%, respectively, with a positive accuracy of 99%. The photometer detected 83% of significant enterobacterial infections and 76% of mixed infections. It is suggested the false negative results (23%) may have included high laboratory colony counts not associated with active urinary tract infection.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation; D001437:Bacteriuria / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010783:Photometry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*