Question

Which of the following cfu results would indicate a UTI is likely?

a) <10,000 cfu/mL of urine
b) 10,000 to 100,000 cfu/mL of urine
c) 100,000 cfu/mL of urine
d) None of the above

Answer 1

A count of 100,000 cfu/mL of urine would indicate that a urinary tract infection (UTI) is likely. This count reflects a significant level of bacteria, which suggests infection.

Step-by-step explanation:

The result that would indicate a urinary tract infection (UTI) is likely is c) 100,000 cfu/mL of urine. A colony-forming unit (CFU) count of 100,000 or more per milliliter of urine suggests a significant bacterial infection, typically associated with UTIs. Lower counts, such as <10,000 cfu/mL (a), might not indicate an infection, and 10,000 to 100,000 cfu/mL (b) could be suggestive, but it depends on the clinical presentation and other diagnostic indicators. Culturing urine helps to confirm the diagnosis which is particularly important in cases of hospital-acquired infections as in the case of Roberta, or when determining the correct antibiotic treatment, as in Anita's situation. A clean catch urine sample is necessary for accurate culture results and to reduce contamination from the normal flora of the genitourinary system.