Comparison of Urine Culture and Urine Dipstick Nitrite Test in Diagnosis of Urinary Tract Infection

ABSTRACT

UTI is one of the most frequent bacterial diseases in all group of the age. The most widespread reference method for UTI is conventional urine culture. Dipsticks nitrite test is commonly used in primary care to predict the subsequent diagnosis of urinary tract infection also it helps in early detection of UTI by avoiding the complication of UTI in causing other diseases. The current study was carried out to determine the sensitivity; specificity of Nitrite (NIT) testing in relation to urine culture. A total of 1043 mid stream urine samples from patients who attend KFH; Kigali; at the microbiology service for bacteriological analysis of urine from January 2014 to March 2014 were included in the study. Urine culture and dipstick tests were carried out on urine samples of all patients. Urinalysis and nitrite were performed in fresh and uncentrifuged urine by using urine dip stick. The urine culture was considered as gold standard. Urine cultures were positive in 165 (15.8) patients. Dipstick tests of urine were positive in 61(5.8) patients. Sensitivity; specificity; positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of Dipstick test were 36.6; 99.9 and 87.8 respectively. The results suggest that any method of urine screening shouldn't be substituted for a urine culture in patient with suspicion of UTI