UTI Testing

We are one of many Trusts across the country changing our practice, to make sure that our patients are getting the best possible care. We know that this is a big change, but it’s really important we get this right for our patients.

Using dipsticks to diagnose a UTI in elderly patients can result in a false positive, as these patients often carry bacteria in their urine but do not have an infection. Treating patients for a UTI when it isn’t present can result in antibiotic resistance and in a third of cases results in harm. 

Did you know that each day between 300-400 urine samples are sent down to our labs to test? By removing the possibility of false positives being tested, we can remove some of the pressure on our colleagues in the labs, as well as ensure we are providing the best possible care to our patients.

Instead of using a dipstick, staff should look to see if the urine is cloudy and assess whether the patient has signs and symptoms of a UTI. If the answer to these questions is ‘yes’, send a urine sample down to the lab.

Urine dipstick tests are done for many reasons, and can still be used for patients over 65 years old as the first step to reaching other diagnoses.

Dipsticks should still be used when looking for a UTI in patients under 65 years old.

In our emergency departments two types of dipsticks will be available to use, one for under 65year olds which can look for UTIs, and one for patients over 65 which doesn’t include UTIs.

Staff are also reminded to continue to ask patients about their signs and symptoms, and ensure all decisions are documented in patient notes/ EPR.

In a recent audit looking at the use of dipsticks at our Trust and how we treat UTI’s, we found that our staff are really good at giving the right antibiotics – keep up the good work!