Perineal cleansing and midstream urine specimens in ambulatory women.
Author(s): Holliday G, Strike PW, Masterton RG
Publication: J Hosp Infect, 1991, Vol. 18, Page 71-5
PubMed ID: 1679076 PubMed Review Paper? No
Purpose of Paper
This paper investigated if perineal cleansing reduces bacterial contamination of urine specimens.
Conclusion of Paper
Regardless of perineal cleansing, 73% of specimens had >103 colony-forming units (cfu)/mL, but only one specimen was considered to have significant pure growth. Although fewer specimens collected following cleansing had >50 epithelial cells/mm3 than collected without cleansing, no other differences in microscopy findings were significant.
Studies
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Study Purpose
This study investigated the effects of perineal cleansing on bacterial contamination and microscopy findings of urine specimens. Urine was collected into urispot MSU packs from 192 antenatal women who had not taken antibiotics within the prior 7 days. Half of the women were instructed to clean the genital area with saline soaked gauze before collection and the other half were not provided instructions on cleansing prior to collection. Specimens were processed within 2 h and cultured overnight. Bacterial, epithelial, red blood cell, and white blood cell counts were determined by microscopy. Significant growth was defined as >105 colony-forming units (cfu)/mL.
Summary of Findings:
Regardless of perineal cleansing, 73% of specimens had >103 colony-forming units (cfu)/mL, but only one specimen was considered to have significant pure growth and it was collected following cleansing. Fewer specimens collected following cleansing had >50 epithelial cells/mm3 than those collected without cleansing (4 versus 12, P=0.017), but other microscopy findings were not affected, including the presence of >10 white blood cell /mm3, the presence of red blood cells, and various combinations of cell counts.
Biospecimens
Preservative Types
- None (Fresh)
Diagnoses:
- Not specified
- Pregnant
Platform:
Analyte Technology Platform Cell count/volume Microbiological assay Cell count/volume Light microscopy Pre-analytical Factors:
Classification Pre-analytical Factor Value(s) Biospecimen Acquisition Method of fluid acquisition Different urine collection procedures compared
Collection site preparation methods compared