A REASSESSMENT OF THE IMPORTANCE OF LOW-COUNT BACTERIURIA IN YOUNG-WOMEN WITH ACUTE URINARY SYMPTOMS

Objective: To determine whether a statistical association exists betwe en ''low-count'' bacteriuria (> 10(2) to 10(4) colony-forming units/mL ) and acute urinary symptoms in young women. Design: Prospective, case -control study. Setting: Gynecology clinic at a student health center. Patients: Women with or without urinary or vaginal symptoms. Measurem ents: History of urinary infections and sexual activity. Quantitative determination of bacteriuria and pyuria and bacterial species; urine l eukocyte esterase test; specific gravity; creatinine levels; vaginal l eukocytes; and in-vitro culture of urine. Results: The frequency of re cent sexual activity, pregnancies, and contraceptive practices was not statistically different between women with acute urinary symptoms and asymptomatic controls. Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus saprophyti cus were the only microorganisms statistically associated with urinary symptoms and pyuria (P < 0.001). Low counts of these organisms were f ound in 10.2% of asymptomatic women. As the bacterial count increased, the association between these organisms and symptoms increased, and a step-wise increase occurred in the frequency and magnitude of pyuria, but the specific gravity and urine creatinine levels remained unchang ed. Escherichia coli, even at low counts, grew well in the patients' o wn urine. Pyuria (>20 leukocytes/mm3) was present in 19.6% of asymptom atic women and was associated with vaginal leukorrhea. Conclusions: '' Low-count'' bacteriuria was statistically more frequent among young wo men with urinary symptoms than among asymptomatic controls. The low co unts could not be explained by dilution of the urine or failure of the bacteria to grow well in the patients' urine. These findings suggest that the infection was not established in the bladder urine and that ' 'low-count'' bacteriuria might be an early phase of urinary tract infe ction.