Role of dipstick testing in the evaluation of urinary tract infection in nursing home residents

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2007 Jul;28(7):889-91. doi: 10.1086/518752. Epub 2007 May 17.

Abstract

Among 101 nursing home residents with suspected urinary tract infection (UTI), we determined the negative predictive value of dipstick testing for leukocyte esterase and nitrite to be 100% (95% confidence interval, 74%-100%), compared with laboratory evidence of UTI (greater than 10 white blood cells/mm(3) on urinalysis and greater than 100,000 colony forming units/mL on urine culture). Nursing home dipstick testing effectively excluded the possibility of UTI.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases / urine
  • Humans
  • Nitrites / urine
  • Nursing Homes
  • Reagent Strips*
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Urinalysis / methods
  • Urinary Tract Infections / microbiology
  • Urinary Tract Infections / urine*

Substances

  • Nitrites
  • Reagent Strips
  • leukocyte esterase
  • Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases