Question

The urinalysis finding most indicative of cystitis includes the presence of a. WBCs and RBCs. b. nitrites. c. bacteria. d. casts.

Answer 1

The presence of white blood cells (WBCs) in the urinalysis is most indicative of cystitis, a urinary tract infection of the bladder, which may also present with red blood cells (RBCs).

Step-by-step explanation:

The urinalysis finding most indicative of cystitis includes the presence of white blood cells (WBCs), which may also be accompanied by red blood cells (RBCs). However, the presence of leukocyte esterase (LE), which is released by white blood cells, can be taken as indirect evidence of a urinary tract infection, making option a) WBCs and RBCs strongly indicative of cystitis. While presence of bacteria, nitrites, and casts are also important findings, the simultaneous presence of WBCs and RBCs is often seen in cases of cystitis. In addition, nitrites may indicate the presence of specific bacteria like Escherichia coli (E. coli) or Klebsiella pneumoniae, which convert nitrate to nitrite. Bacterial growth in urine culture and the presence of WBCs typically confirm the diagnosis of a bacterial infection leading to cystitis.

Answer 2

Answer: b. nitrites

Step-by-step explanation:

Cystitis can be defined as the inflammation that occurs in the bladder. The bladder gets red, swollen and irritated. The cause of cystitis is urinary tract infection caused by the bacteria. The bacteria may enter inside the bladder through urethra.

The infected urine may consists of considerable amount of nitrites as a result of bacterial enzyme nitrate reductase which break down nitrates into nitrites. The urinalysis for the detection of nitrites is a test for cystitis.