Urine culture is an examination method to detect the presence of bacteria in the urine, as a sign of urinary tract infection. In addition to detecting the presence of bacteria, urine culture can also be used to determine the type of bacteria that causes infection.
Bacteria can enter the urine through the urethra, both in men and women. Bacteria that enter the urinary tract can grow and develop quickly. Urinary tract infections that are not treated properly, can be dangerous and cause complications, ranging from the spread of infection to other parts of the body, to permanent kidney failure.
Urine Culture Indications
Someone can be recommended to undergo a urine culture examination if you experience complaints of urinary tract infections. These complaints are:
- Pain and burning sensation during urination
- Low back pain
- Urine is turbid and has a strong odor
- Often wants to urinate and cannot be arrested
- Feels something pressing in the lower abdomen
- There is blood in the urine.
If urinary tract infections occur that are already severe enough or have spread to the kidneys, the following symptoms can appear:
- High fever
- Shivering
- Shaky
- Nausea or vomiting.
In addition to patients with urinary tract infections, urine culture is also recommended for pregnant women in the first trimester of pregnancy or at the first prenatal visit. The aim is to detect the presence of bacteria in the urinary tract that can affect the health and development of the fetus.
Not all patients with urinary tract infections need to undergo a urine culture examination, but given drugs directly just by looking at the symptoms and urine test results. This is often done in young women who experience lower urinary tract infections but do not cause any complications.
Urine Culture Preparation
Before urine culture is performed, the patient needs to tell the doctor about the medicine being taken, including vitamins and supplements. The content of drugs and vitamins in the urine can affect the results, so it becomes inaccurate. Approaching the time for sampling, it is recommended to hold urination until the time of sampling. In addition, patients also should not drink for 15-20 minutes before the sample is taken.
Procedure for Taking Urine Culture Samples
The procedure for taking urine samples is quite simple. Patients must first wash their hands and clean their genitals, in order to avoid bacterial contamination from the outside. Male patients need to clean the head of their penis, while female patients must clean their vagina from front to back.
When urinating, the patient should not immediately collect urine in a container, but first remove about half the urine that comes out first. After that, the patient can collect the remaining urine in the body in the sample container until it reaches the required amount. Then clean the genitals again after completing the sampling, then wash your hands.
Urine sampling can also be done through a catheter, which is a thin tube that is inserted through the patient's urine hole. Medical personnel will take fresh urine from the patient and not from the urine reservoir. In certain cases, urine can be taken through the fine needle aspiration method. Urine aspiration through the needle is done if the patient cannot pass urine through a catheter or if the sample obtained from the previous sampling method is always contaminated.
The urine that has been collected is then sent to a laboratory to be tested for the presence of bacteria that cause the infection.
Procedure and Interpretation of Urine Culture Test Results
Urine samples from patients will be brought to the laboratory for analysis. The urine sample will be cultured in a special medium in the form of agar, then stored in a special storage room that has a temperature such as body temperature. If there is bacteria in the urine, it will grow in a few days. Keep in mind that on the surface of the skin of the penis and vagina, there are normal microorganisms that may be carried in the sample.
From the results of the number of bacterial colonies that grow, as well as symptoms that are generated, the doctor will assess whether the patient has a urinary tract infection, and whether or not to be given treatment. If you feel the results are doubtful, your doctor may recommend a repeat urine culture test.
Various types of bacteria can cause urinary tract infections. However, the type of bacteria that most often causes this infection is Escherichia coli, which is normally found in the digestive tract. Other bacteria that can cause urinary tract infections are:
- Proteus sp
- Enterococcus sp
- Klebsiella sp
- Staphylococcus sp
- Candida sp.
If you already know the type of bacteria that grows, resistance or susceptibility testing will be done through the same sample. Antibiotic resistance tests are carried out to determine which antibiotic is effective in treating the bacterial infection.
After Urine Culture Test
Patients with urinary tract infections can be treated with antibiotics, depending on the type of bacteria that causes the infection, medical history, and the recurrence rate of the infection.
Treatment of urinary tract infections can be supported by daily activities carried out by the patient. More diligent drinking water can help treat urinary tract infections, because bacteria will be routinely discharged through urine.
Complications of Urine Culture
Taking urine culture samples is a safe action, it does not even cause pain, unless sampling is done through a catheter or needle aspiration. If there is pain that feels when taking a sample, it is due to a urinary tract infection that is being suffered.
If a urine sample is taken through a catheter, the patient may feel uncomfortable when a catheter tube is inserted through the urinary hole. To reduce pain, the catheter will be coated with a lubricant first to reduce discomfort, and facilitate the procedure.
