Leukocyte Esterase as Predictor of Urine Culture Result

Abstract

Objective: Assess varying levels of leukocyte esterase presence on urine dipstick as a risk factor for positive urine culture. Materials and methods: Retrospective evaluation of outpatient laboratory data from Beloit Memorial Hospital obtained randomly from samples in outpatient settings in the year 2016. 2000 urine results obtained from automated urine dipstick and microscopy analysis. From the 2000 samples, 1123 patients randomly selected and grouped into controls and case participants based on positive urine cultures. Information gathered included age and gender. Conclusion: Leukocyte esterase on dipstick analysis at “large” or “moderate” levels are both independent positive predictors of positive urine culture. “Small” level of leukocyte esterase has no predictive value for positive urine culture and “trace” leukocyte level has a negative predictive value for a positive urine culture.