- Test Name:
- Urine culture, indwelling catheter (Edmonton/Central/North)
- Organism(s)/Disease(s):
-
Urinary tract infection (UTI)
- Body Source(s):
-
Catheter - indwelling, suprapubic
Catheter - indwelling, urethral
Catheter - intermittent
-
Clinical Prerequisite(s):
-
Provision of relevant clinical information is important to ensure a clinically relevant result
- State specimen source - Specify: Indwelling catheter urine and duration insitu
- State current/proposed antibiotic therapy and start date
- Provide relevant clinical history. State symptoms, signs, and risk factors for UTI
- Provide any antimicrobial allergies
Indwelling catheters are inserted into the bladder either through the urethra (Indwelling urethral) or suprapubically (Indwelling suprapubic). They are left in the bladder for continuous drainage of urine. Short-term catheters are in place for <14 days, whilst long-term catheters remain in place for >14 days.
Urine for culture MUST be collected by a trained caregiver ASEPTICALLY from the side port of the catheter. A long-term catheter MUST be removed first and either an MSU collected, or a new catheter replaced before aseptically aspirating urine from the side port. This is vital for both specimen quality and source control.
The diagnosis of Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) is CLINICAL, based on symptoms and signs, NOT laboratory testing.
Urine should be sent for culture only AFTER there is a strong clinical suspicion of UTI, to find the causative bacterium and its antibiotic susceptibilities.
The role of urine culture is to guide the selection of antibiotic therapy.
Urine MUST be collected BEFORE starting antibiotics
- Preferred Collection Device/Tube Type:
-
Sterile 60 mL plastic container (orange-top).
- Collection Device/Tube Type:
-
BD Vacutainer (blue-top) urine culture collection cup
BD Vacutainer (grey-top) preservation tube
- Collection Instructions:
-
1. For hospital, continuing care facilities, and home collections by healthcare workers:
1.
2.
Ensure catheter has been in place for 14 days or less.
If over 14 days, replace catheter before collecting the specimen OR remove catheter and collect MSU3.
Trained caregiver to collect urine specimen using aseptic technique
4.
Wash hands well with soap and water. Dry well. Wear sterile gloves
5.
Clean the side port with an alcohol sponge
6.
Using the needle and syringe, puncture the port diaphragm and aspirate urine – at least 30 mL. Collect urine from side port ONLY (Do not collect from the collection bag or catheter-tube junction)
7.
Place aspirated urine in the BD collection cup (blue-top). Close lid
8.
Transfer urine into grey-top tube immediately
9.
Submit grey-top tube only. Dispose of blue transfer device according to your facility’s policy
10.
Optional:
- Insert vacutainer device into the cleaned side port
- Insert the grey-top tube directly into the device
- Hold the tube in place until no more urine enters the tube
- Remove tube and vacutainer device
2. For home collections by patient/caregiver:
- Collect specimen using appropriate instructions
- Place in a sterile orange-top container
- Refrigerate specimen if not being delivered directly to the lab after collection
- Specimen should be delivered to the lab within 2 hours - Handling and Storage:
-
Room temperature
- Handling/Storage Comments:
-
Urine submitted in GREY-TOP tubes can be stored and transported at room temperature
Delivery to the laboratory as soon as possible (within 2 hours) to expedite the result and initiation of therapy
- Rejection Criteria:
-
- Mislabelled or unlabelled specimen/requisition
- More than 1 specimen/collection method/day
- Pooled 24-hour urine collection
- Leaking container
- Underfilled or overfilled grey-top preservative tubes
- Expired preservative tubes
- Urinalysis tubes
- Foley catheter tips
- Unpreserved urine specimen (not in preservative tubes)
- Turnaround Times
- See Microbiology Information»
- Comments:
-
Contact Microbiologist on Call for any concerns regarding culture results
Phone: 780-451-3702
Toll free: 1-800-661-9876 - Last Reviewed:
- 06 May 2023
