I was wondering what protocols others are using for urine culture screening. Currently we have two ways to order a UA: Urinalysis, and Urinalysis w Screen for Culture. (We also have a straight urine C&S order -- we just do those without scrteening.
If the latter is ordered, we look at the following from a UA: Esterase, Nitrite, and on microscopic: WBCs, and Yeast and/or bacteria. If any of these four things is positive or present, we do a C&S. If they are all negative, we cancel the C&S as "void per protocol".
Almost all of our UA orders now are Urinalysis w Screen for Culture. The presence of bacteria (or something that looks like bacteria) causes the C&S to be done, We get a lot of negative urine C&S s with this system.
Thanks,Scott