The presence of bacteria in the urine, usually a sign of infection in the kidneys, bladder or urethra. If bacterial numbers in a cleanly caught mid-stream specimen exceed 10,000 in each millilitre, that is probably not due to contamination during collection but a true measure of infection. Investigation is then needed to find a cause and start treatment if necessary.
Patients found to have bacteriuria on SCREENING may never have consulted a doctor but nearly all have a few symptoms, such as frequency or urgency – so-called ‘covert bacteriuria’ (i.e. hidden).
Men have longer urethras and fewer urinary tract infections (UTIs) than women. Risk factors include diabetes mellitus, pregnancy, impaired voiding and genito-urinary malformations.
Patients should be encouraged to drink plenty of water, with frequent urination. Specific antibiotic therapy may be needed once the sensitivity of the bacteria has been assessed. Some patients, especially young children, may need imaging of the kidney, ureter and bladder by ultrasound or other methods, in case their infection is due to a structural abnormality of one of those tissues.