new criterion for laboratory diagnosis of symptomatic urinary tract infection in women

One hundred and twenty urine specimens from symptomatic and asymptomatic women patients suspected of urinary tract infection [UTI] were tested for the presence of true bacteriuria. Specimens from symptomatic patients were cultured by a dual-plating method and specimens from asymptomatic patients by the standard loop technique. The results were compared with microscopic examinations. It is shown that in symptomatic patients with lower UTI, 100 or more colony forming units per milliliter [CFU/ml] of urine is a better criterion for the detection of true bacteriuria