What Does My Urine Culture Test Report Indicate?

Posted on Tue, 31 Oct 2017

Question: Hello doctor my 3 week son had a CRP value of 62 and enteroccocus >10000uml from urine culture...after a 3 day antibiotic course the CRP value came down to 3 and we got discharged. Is there any possibility that it may relapse or affect kidney, bladder or ureter in future?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Pradeep Kumar Jain (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Chances are less if other urinary parameters were normal

Detailed Answer:
Hi

Thanks for asking on this platform

I have gone through the query and do understand your concern.
Urinary infection with enterococcus is considered to be significant of it is more than 100000 cfu/ml. But if baby was already on antibiotics or there is associated pus cells(WBC) in urine, even lesser count is significant . Unlike adults in babies of less than one month age if diagnosis of UTI is confirmed/suspected it should be treated aggressively as this is considered to be more of blood born rather than isolated UTI
I would like to know the report of routine examination of urine and the culture report.
Also please let me know the total duration of antibiotic the baby has received or has been advised.
Considering the age of the baby, history of hospital admission and raised CRP; I would like to continue the antibiotic for 7-10 days with repeat urine examination after 7 days. Ultrasound is also needed in this age considering the UTI to rule out structural abnormality of urinary tract. Depending on ultrasound and repeat urinary report the further management and outcome can be decided.

So I request you to provide the details so that I better able to help you out.

I hope this helps.
Please let me know if you have any more questions.
Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Pradeep Kumar Jain (2 hours later)

Doctor you have said it is significant if it is more than 100000cfu/ml? My baby report says its >10000cfu/ml and wbc count is in normal range

Answered by Dr. Dr. Pradeep Kumar Jain (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Even low colony count can be there in UTI

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Ideally 100000 CFU/ml or more alone itself is suggestive of UTI. But in presence of urinary WBC count more than 10, positive urinary nitrite, positive leukocyte esterase or if patient is already on antibiotic; even lesser colony count should be treated as UTI.

I won't get overly worried if the only culture was positive with 10000 CFU/ml and there was no other evidence of UTI.

If there is no clear diagnosis, the treatment depends on individual's personal choice.

Considering the age of your son, I would like to complete at least 7-10 days of antibiotic with Ultrasound in follow up to rule out urinary tract abnormality.

Regards

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee