Multiple organisms on culture may be encountered in the elderly, the immune suppressed and those with catheters. If infection is present, treatment should follow and monthly urine cultures should follow until delivery. Routine screening of otherwise asymptomatic individuals is not of benefit. In the symptomatic male, urine culture is recommended because of the likelihood of relapse and the common association with prostatic disease. In infants and very young children who cannot provide a clean or midstream voided urine, a specimen for culture and sensitivity can be obtained by catheterization or suprapubic aspiration.
Bagged urine is acceptable for urinalysis but is unacceptable for culture.
If the urinalysis on a bagged urine suggests an infection, then either a specimen collected by catheterization or suprapubic aspiration should be sent for culture and antibiotic sensitivity testing of any isolate recovered. L.E. Screening for asymptomatic bacteriuria in pregnancy. Canadian Guide to Clinical Preventative Health Care, Minister of Supply and Services Canada Publication. Nicole L.E. Screening for asymptomatic bacteriuria in the elderly. Canadian Guide to Clinical Preventative Health Care.