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Tests and diagnosis
By Mayo Clinic staff
Tests and procedures used to diagnose urinary tract infections include:
- Analyzing a urine sample. Your doctor may ask you to turn in a urine sample that will be analyzed in a laboratory to determine if pus, red blood cells or bacteria are present. To avoid potential contamination of the sample, you may be instructed to first wipe your genital area with an antiseptic pad and to collect the urine midstream.
- Growing urinary tract bacteria in a lab. Laboratory analysis of the urine is sometimes followed by a urine culture — a test that uses your urine sample to grow bacteria in a lab. This test tells your doctor what bacteria are causing your infection and which medications will be most effective.
- Creating images of your urinary tract. If your doctor suspects that an abnormality in your urinary tract is causing frequent infections, you may undergo tests to create images of your urinary tract using ultrasound or computerized tomography (CT). Another test called an intravenous urinary pyelogram uses X-rays to create images. During this test, a dye is injected into a vein in your arm and X-rays are taken of your urinary tract. The dye highlights your bladder and urethra and allows your doctor to determine if you have any abnormalities that slow urine from leaving your body.
- Using a scope to see inside your bladder. If you have recurrent urinary tract infections, your doctor may use a long, thin tube with a lens (cystoscope) to see inside your urethra and bladder. The cystoscope is inserted in your urethra and passed through to your bladder. This procedure is called cystoscopy.
References
- Schaeffer AJ, et al. Infections of the urinary tract. In: Wein AJ, et al. Campbell-Walsh Urology. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/202281144-2/0/1445/0.html. Accessed May 21, 2010.
- Urinary tract infections in adults. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/utiadult/index.htm. Accessed May 21, 2010.
- Lentz GM. Urogynecology: Physiology of micturition, diagnosis of voiding dysfunction, and incontinence: Surgical and nonsurgical treatment. In: Katz VL, et al. Comprehensive Gynecology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/202781245-2/0/1524/0.html. Accessed May 25, 2010.
- Urinary tract infections in children. UrologyHealth.org. http://www.urologyhealth.org/pediatric/index.cfm?cat=07&topic=146. Accessed May 25, 2010.
- McPherson RA, et al. Basic examination of urine. In: McPherson RA, et al. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. 21st ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/202781245-4/0/1393/0.html. Accessed May 25, 2010.
- Hooton TM. Recurrent urinary tract infection in women. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 12, 2010.
- Guay DRP. Cranberry and urinary tract infections. Drugs. 2009;69:775.
- Cranberry. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://www.naturaldatabase.com. Accessed May 26, 2010.
- Jepson RG, et al. Cranberries for preventing urinary tract infections (review). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2008;CD001321.
- Coumadin (prescribing information). Princeton, N.J.: Bristol-Myers Squibb; 2010. http://www.coumadin.com/for_hcp.aspx. Accessed May 26, 2010.
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