Sorted By Test Name - Mayo Medical Laboratories

UR
8105
ANAE
84292
BBLD
8082
Bacterial Culture, Aerobic, Urine
Clinical Information: Urinary tract infection (UTI) encompasses a broad range of clinical entities
that vary in their clinical presentation, degree of tissue invasion, epidemiologic setting, and antibiotic
therapy requirements. There are four major types of UTIs: urethritis, cystitis, acute urethral syndrome, and
pyelonephritis. UTIs may also be classified as uncomplicated or complicated. Escherichia coli is the
leading cause of uncomplicated community-acquired UTI. Risk factors that predispose one to complicated
UTIs include: underlying diseases that are associated with kidney infection (eg, diabetes), kidney stones,
structural or functional urinary tract abnormalities and indwelling urinary catheters. Another classification
of UTIs is as upper UTI (related to the kidney, renal pelvis, or ureter) or lower UTI (urinary bladder and
urethra). The classic symptoms of upper UTI are fever (often with chills) and flank pain; frequent painful
urination, urgency, and dysuria are more often associated with lower UTI.
Useful For: Diagnosis of urinary tract infections. Quantitative culture results may be helpful in
discriminating contamination, colonization, and infection.
Interpretation: In general, the isolation of >100,000 cfu/mL of a urinary pathogen is indicative of
UTI. Isolation of 2 or more organisms >10,000 cfu/mL may suggest specimen contamination.
Reference Values:
Identification of probable pathogens with colony count ranges
Clinical References: Mandell GL, Bennett JE, Dolin R: Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles
and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 4th edition. New York, Churchill Livingstone,1995, pp 662-690
Bacterial Culture, Anaerobic
Clinical Information: Anaerobic bacteria are the greatest component of the human body's normal
bacterial flora colonizing the skin, oral cavity, and genitourinary and lower gastrointestinal tracts. Their
presence is important in preserving vitamin and other nutrient absorption and in preventing infection with
pathogenic bacteria. Anaerobes generally are of low pathogenicity but may possess virulence factors such
as endotoxin or polysaccharide capsules or produce extracellular toxins. Disease occurs when a large
inoculum develops in an area lacking oxygen and/or poor blood supply. Typical anaerobic infections
include periodontitis, abdominal or pelvic abscesses, endometritis, pelvic inflammatory disease, aspiration
pneumonia, empyema and lung abscesses, sinusitis, brain abscesses, gas gangrene, and other soft tissue
infections. Many Bacterioides produce beta-lactamase and are resistant to penicillins and cephalosporins.
Imipenem, metronidazole, and clindamycin are effective agents although resistance to clindamycin is
increasing.
Useful For: Diagnosing anaerobic bacterial infections
Interpretation: Isolation of anaerobes in significant numbers from well collected specimens including
blood, other normally sterile body fluids, or closed collections of purulent fluid indicates infection with
that (those) organism(s).
Reference Values:
Not applicable
Clinical References: Finegold SM, George WL: Anaerobic Infections in Humans. San Diego, CA,
Academic Press, 1989
Bacterial Culture, Blood
Clinical Information: When bacteria multiply at a rate that exceeds removal by phagocytes,
bacteremia results. The clinical pattern of bacteremia may be transient, intermittent, or continuous.
Transient bacteremia often occurs after manipulative procedures (dental procedures, cystoscopy) or
surgery in contaminated areas of the body. Undrained abscesses (intraabdominal, pelvic, hepatic) may
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