Non-Microbiological Tests for the Diagnosis of Urinary Tract Infection

Abstract

After clinical evaluation, suspicion of urinary tract infection might be modified by different tests that have the ability to augment (or diminish) the probability of a positive urinary culture and a confirmed diagnosis. In this review, we evaluate the possible role of different non microbiological test for the diagnosis of an urinary tract infection. Some of them might be easily available in the office or a busy emergency room, while others require more sophisticated infrastructure. Due to the high frequency of urinary tract infections, the diversity of symptoms, the difficulty of the diagnosis in some group of patients (e.g., older patients, those with dementia, etc.), and the lack of a gold standard, those non-microbiological tests might contribute to a correct diagnosis and a proper use of antibiotics in difficult cases.