CURIOuS AS TO WHY THE DISCREPANCY...

[dg2901]

Have any of you come across two Dr's that dont agree on what constitutes a UTI? I know this may come across as a strange question, however my GP (and his associates) says when white blood cells are present in a urine sample then infection is present. My urologist (current and past) disagrees and says that just because white blood cells are present DOES NOT necessarily mean infection---that white blood cells can slough off the vaginal/perineum/rectal area and contaminate the sample; the only way to positively diagnose an infection is with a culture. Who's right, who's wrong? I'm asking this because I went to my GP (saw one of his associates) due to a strange feeling when urinating (what i'm figuring is the beginning of an infection). My urine sample showed WBC's and the Dr said "WBC's are present which indicates infection" and put me on a 7 day course of Cipro. Anyone here come across this discrepancy? Just curious.....Thanks!.........diana

[purpleviolet]

I did discuss with the URO about UTI and she said that there used to be a high level of bacteria required to be UTI but now it is less plus symptoms and I think blood and WBC's in the urine, too.

[K9wife]

I agree that,especially in females, a dipstick test that shows white cells is many times just a "contaminant" and when the bacteriologist in the lab cultures it out, they can separate the contaminant that may be vaginal,etc from a germ like E Coli,strep, staph, and if it is gram negative or gram positive...and so on. The real test is definitely the culture, because sometimes no matter how "clean" you are or how well you clean prior to the test for some people there is always a positive white cell or blood sign in their dipstick. besides, the culture also shows which medicines are resistant to whatever germ they find, and which meds will clear it.

[ICNDonna]

The dipstick test usually diagnoses a "probability" of infection; the culture is the test that confirms and identifies the infection.

Donna

[tbokay]

My last two "utis" were sterile samples - catheters were used to collect it. Both times it came back with elevated WBC and trace amounts of blood ... but both times the culture was negative.

My uro/gyn says its not a true infection - but with the symptoms I was feeling they said to continue antibiotic. I hate taking meds and to take one "just in case" seems to me like I will be come more resistant to it sooner.

The last culture could also have been a "false negative" since I was on low dose antibiotic for 2 wks prior to my symptoms.

[dg2901]

So it sounds as if unless the culture comes back showing positive for bacteria then WBC's basically mean nothing other than theres a contaminant present.
Thanks everyone for sharing ya'lls experience; I was beginning to wonder if my Dr's got there degrees from totally different medical sources...haha.
Stay well
diana

[Katrina]

Many people suffering from IC have WBC in their urine...blood in their urine....and so on at all times.

Always ask for a culture...it is the only way to be sure!

Since inflammation can cause bleeding many of us have things show up in urine ananalysis (dip stick) that often mean to doctor possible infection.