The University of Alabama at Birmingham Office of Media Relations
July 19, 1999
Contact: Joy Carter, (205) 934-1676
[email protected]
UAB STUDY VALIDATES ALTERNATIVE TO DETECT URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS
BIRMINGHAM, AL -- An alternative way of screening urine specimens for urinary tract infections (UTIs) could greatly reduce the number of lab cultures performed each year and reduce antibiotic usage, according to a study by Andrew Lorincz, M.D., professor emeritus with the department of pediatrics at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). Details of the study are published in the July issue of the Annals of Clinical and Laboratory Science. The technique, called the supravital microscopic fluorescence technique, can be performed in a physician's office and requires only a single droplet of urine and a fluorescence microscope. "Such a microscope costs about $2,000 more than a standard light microscope," says Lorincz.
More than 300 million urinalyses are performed in the U.S. each year using urine chemistry reagent strips, or dipsticks, and examination of centrifuged urine sediments under a light microscope. If bacteria or pus cells are detected, specimens are cultured to determine if significant bacteria are present and if so, what antibiotics should be used to treat the infection. "More than 25 percent of urinalyses are cultured and tested for antibiotic sensitivities. Of those, less than 30 percent are reported to show clinically significant urinary tract infection," says Lorincz. "This screening technique will allow physicians or laboratory technologists to determine in five minutes or less whether a culture is needed, eliminating the culturing of 70 percent of specimens. This represents a potential major cost savings." -more- Add 1 - UTI Screening Alternative
It's common for physicians to prescribe broad-spectrum antibiotics while awaiting the results of culture and sensitivities testing, according to Lorincz. "This technique would minimize the practice of prescribing broad-spectrum antibiotics while waiting 24 to 48 hours for the results of a culture."
The procedure involves placing a drop of urine and a drop of stain on a glass slide, covering the mixture with a glass cover slip and sealing the edges with melted paraffin. "The slide is ready for examination using a fluorescence microscope," says Lorincz. "Bacteria and white blood cells, or puss cells, are rendered in brilliant fluorescing colors, indicating the presence and amount of bacteria and pus in a sample."
The technique isn't new. "It's a methodology that I and others have known for a long time," says Lorincz. "It just hasn't been applied to clinical problems. Now, we've done that."
The methodology is not limited to the detection of bacteria, yeast and other cells in urine. "I look forward to seeing other clinical validation studies," says Lorincz. "This technique can be used for screening a large spectrum of biological fluids, including sputum, blood, semen, and tears. And, it has the advantage of being able to rapidly detect mycloplasma -- the smallest bacteria known -- and microorganisms which can't been seen using a light microscope." www.uab.edu
RSS