ABSTRACT
Results of urinalysis, particularly the leukocyte esterase and nitrite tests, often are used to determine whether treatment is needed or a culture will be performed in cases of suspected urinary tract infection. However, there is disagreement over the quality of urinalysis as a screening test for urinary tract infections. Final urine culture results (n = 225) were obtained from the clinical microbiology laboratory. Stepwise binary logistic regression was used to derive a model using presence of infection as determined by culture as the dependent variable and urinalysis results as independent variables. A second set of data (n = 128) then was obtained to test the model. Statistical significance and the ability to predict infection based on urinalysis results were determined. Results indicated a lack of sensitivity for leukocyte esterase, nitrite, and presence of bacteria in the microscopic examination as indicators of urinary tract infection.
