To dip or not to dip – Test your knowledge on UTIs
December 22, 2020
Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a common diagnosis in community and inpatient settings in our Trust. The infection is caused by bacteria in the urine, and is treated with short courses of antibiotics. However evidence is now showing that clinicians should show caution when reaching for the dip sticks when diagnosing UTIs in older patients.
The presence of bacteria in urine causing infection can be suggested by the symptoms that the patient has – for example pain, frequency and strong smell when passing urine, and is often confirmed by the use of a urine dip stick test which can test for blood and bacteria.
However one fact that is often overlooked is that it is possible for patients to have bacteria in their urine, but not have an underlying infection. This occurs in up to 50% of patients over the age of 65 years, and up to 100% of patients who have a urinary catheter in situ.
It is for this very reason that we advise that urine dip sticks should not be used to diagnose UTI in patients over 65 years old, or any patient with a catheter.
Test your knowledge on identifying and treating UTIs and be in with a chance to win a ‘Pamper Hamper’.