Detection of bacteriuria in pediatric outpatients. A new culture device.

Urine samples from 1,003 pediatric patients were examined for bacteriuria with a culture-nitrite strip test, along with microscopic assessment of pyruia and conventional chemical analysis. The latter two methods proved of little value in reliably detecting or excluding substantial bacteriuria. An overall prevalence of 5.2% was shown. Using Microstix Reagent Strips, 92 urine samples with substantial colony counts were detected. Subculture from the strips disclosed that 52 of these involved single pathogens, interpreted as true bacteriuria. When Microstix growth results were compared with the calibrated loop method on 108 randomly selected specimens, the strip gave only two false negatives and one false positive. Bacteriuria screening should be done in high-risk groups and in asymptomatic children as part of the health evaluation. The index of suspicion should be higher in girls, and reliable interpretation of culture results requires attention to proper specimen collection.