Does flow cytometry have a role in preliminary differentiation between urinary tract infections sustained by gram positive and gram negative bacteria? An Italian polycentric study.

BACKGROUND

Urine culture is the most frequently requested test for a Microbiology Lab. A reliable screening tool would be of paramount importance both to clinicians and laboratorians, provided that it could get fast and accurate negative results in order to rule-out urinary tract infection (UTI).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We evaluated 1907 consecutive urine samples from outpatients. Culture was performed on chromogenic agar with 1μL loop, using 10(5)CFU/mL as a limit of positive growth. Using Sysmex Uf-1000i analyzer we evaluated bacteria forward scatter (B_FSC) and fluorescent light scatter (B_FLH) in a preliminary discrimination step for UTI caused by Gram+ or Gram- bacteria.

RESULTS

We got 512 positive samples. A mono-microbial infection was observed in 490 samples; two bacterial strains were isolated in 22 samples, so 534 bacterial strains were found: 392 Gram-, 133 Gram+ and 9 yeasts. Comparing Gram+ and Gram- bacteria we observed a statistically significant difference for B_FSC but not for B_FLH. In this application experimental cut-off value for B_FSC was 25ch. Using this cut-off to perform a presumptive identification of UTI sustained by Gram-+ bacteria, we observed a SE 0.68, SP 0.84.

CONCLUSION

Our data although preliminary suggest that B_FSC could be useful in presumptive exclusion of UTI caused by Gram-positive bacteria.