Bacteriuria: Symptoms, Complaints, Signs

The following symptoms and complaints may occur together with bacteriuria:

Leading symptom

• Bacteriuria (excretion of bacteria with urine).

Associated symptoms

• See under cystitis (cystitis) or pyelonephritis (inflammation of the renal pelvis).

Below is the description of urine collection with the aim of reducing contamination/impurities.

For biochemical analysis, the first morning urine is the most appropriate and the second morning urine is the most practical for the outpatient clinic:

• For an examination of urine sediment or urine culture: obtaining midstream (= midstream urine); preparatory measures:
  • Infants/toddlers:
    • “clean-catch” urine, i.e., the child is held on the lap with genitals exposed and spontaneous micturition (urination) is awaited. The urine is collected with a sterile container.
    • Catheter urine or
    • Urine by bladder puncture (suprapubic bladder puncture).
  • Woman:
    • Spreading of the labia (labia majora)
    • Careful cleaning of the meatus urethrae (outer mouth of the urethra) with water.
  • Man:
    • Careful cleaning of the glans penis (“glans”) with water.
• For an orientational urine examination (e.g., by means of test strips), cleaning of the introitus vaginae (vaginal entrance) or glans penis can be omitted.