Urine culture collected from gel-based diapers: Developing a novel experimental laboratory method

• Published in: Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine Vol. 17; no. 2; pp. 91 - 95
• Main Authors: Shvartzman, Pesach, Nasri, Yussuf
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.03.2004
• Subjects: Cell Culture Techniques - methods; Diapers, Infant - microbiology; Equipment Contamination; Gels; Humans; Incontinence; Sensitivity and Specificity; Specimen Handling - methods; Time Factors; Urinalysis - methods; Urinary Tract Infections - diagnosis
• ISSN: 0893-8652; 1557-2625; 1544-8770; 1558-7118
• DOI: 10.3122/jabfm.17.2.91

Urinary tract infection diagnosis is based on urine culture, taken from a midstream collection. Obtaining samples in this manner is difficult in elderly patients suffering from incontinence and in infants. (1) Develop a method for urine collection using gel-based diapers and (2) compare culture results from gel-based diapers with those of the same urine, examined by accepted methods. Urine was collected and cultured by standard bacteriologic techniques at the microbiology laboratory of Soroka Medical Center, Beer-Sheva, Israel. Gel-based diapers were manually dampened with the same urine samples, and samples from diapers were cultured 0 to 3 hours after dampening. Comparison showed good correlation between direct urine cultures and cultures obtained from gel based diapers (R = 1.000). Total sensitivity was 100% and specificity 97%. (1) Urine can be cultured from gel-based diapers and (2) a larger sample of in vivo trials will be needed to make this technique clinically applicable in an outpatient setting.