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Time-course of quantitative urinary leukocytes and bacteria counts during antibiotic therapy in women with symptoms of urinary tract infection.

Ottiger C, Schaer G, Huber AR

Microbiological Institute, Cantonal Hospital, Aarau, Switzerland.

BACKGROUND: Urinary tract infections are generally diagnosed by test strips and microscopic semi-quantitative sediment analyses. However, results are uncertain because of lacking standardisation and limited sensitivity in low-count-bacteriuria. Flow cytometry UF-100 was used to analyse particles quantitatively in urine in women with urinary tract infections during the period of antibiotic therapy. The aim was to follow the courses of leukocytes and bacteria during infections and to gain information about the reasons for successful or unsuccessful outcomes. METHOD: Quantitative leukocytes and bacterial counts in urine of 16 symptomatic women were performed at presentation and each day during the antibiotic treatment by flow cytometry UF-100. RESULTS: Leukocytes in urine were between 30 and 15,000 (x10(6)/L) at presentation (cut-off 20x10(6)/L). Bacteria counts from flow cytometry were mainly 5x10(9)/L-100x10(9)/L (cut-off of 3x10(9)/L). The deepest decreases in cell counts were noted during the first 24 h after initiation of therapy and gained normal values at the end of treatment in successful outcomes. A slower or no decrease was noted in unsuccessful treatments. CONCLUSION: The precise leukocyte and bacteria counting by flow cytometry and their follow-up during urinary tract infections gave early information about outcomes of therapy.

Published 13 March 2007 in Clin Chim Acta, 379(1): 36-41.
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