|
PRINT ISSN : 2319-7692
Online ISSN : 2319-7706 Issues : 12 per year Publisher : Excellent Publishers Email : editorijcmas@gmail.com / submit@ijcmas.com Editor-in-chief: Dr.M.Prakash Index Copernicus ICV 2018: 95.39 NAAS RATING 2020: 5.38 |
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the inflammatory disorders of the urinary tract caused by the abnormal growth of pathogens. Microscopy of urine is of diagnostic value and culture is still the gold standard for isolation of bacteria. However presumptive approach with non -culture rapid screening tests is more practical and cost-effective to manage UTI. The present study is therefore being undertaken to evaluate the usefulness of several laboratory based rapid screening tests compared to culture. The study was undertaken in the Department of Microbiology, Goa Medical College on 200 urine samples that were collected randomly from patients, attending the Out Patient Department. Urine samples were collected from patients with a provisional diagnosis of urinary tract infections, based on clinical history alone of patients who have not received any antibiotic treatment. Each sample was processed as follows: i) Semi quantitative culture ii) Non culture screening tests: a)Wet mount examination b) Gram staining c) Griess nitrite test d) Triphenyl Tetrazolium Chloride test e) Catalase test f) Leucocyte Esterase dipstick test. Out of 200 samples processed by semi-quantitative loop method, significant bacteriuria was observed in 62% cases. The sensitivity of LE dipstick test was highest (92.7%), followed by Griess Nitrite test (88.7%) and wet mount for pyuria (87.9%). However, the difference in sensitivity of the various tests was not significant. The negative predictive value was highest with the Leucocyte esterase test (88.5%) and least with catalase test (69.2%). The negative predictive value was the least with catalase test. The values were calculated with respect to culture. Rapid detection of significant bacteriuria can have profound effect on patient care as well as laboratory economics. This is because it avoids unnecessary antibiotic therapy to patients with normal urine. Secondly, it prevents the cost of labor and material by helping to avoid culturing of negative urine specimens. Hence, the need for rapid and more accurate methods for detection of significant bacteriuria is very important.