Reflex urine culture testing in an ambulatory urology clinic: Implications for antibiotic stewardship in urology.

Objectives: To evaluate the performance characteristics of urinalysis and urine microscopy parameters for predicting urine culture results and to implement a reflex urine culture program.

Methods: We reviewed the charts of all patients presenting to our clinic January-March 2013 and June-August 2014, excluding those who were catheter-dependent or with urinary diversions. We assessed the association of urinalysis and urine microscopy parameters on urine culture outcomes defining a positive urinalysis as nitrite-positive and/or the presence of ≥5 white blood cells per high-powered field with bacteria and a positive urine culture as ≥10 000 colony-forming units/mL excluding diphtheroids.

Utility of routine urinalysis and urine culture testing in an ambulatory urology clinic: a quality improvement initiative in a Veterans healthcare facility.

Introduction: Urinalysis (UA) and urine culture (UCx) are commonly performed tests in the urology clinic. Many of these urine studies are performed prior to the patient visit may not always be indicated, thus contributing to unintended consequences such as antibiotic use and costs without enhancing patient care. Our objective was to perform a quality improvement initiative aimed to assess the utility of routine UA/UCx.