Targeting Asymptomatic Bacteriuria in Antimicrobial Stewardship: the Role of the Microbiology Laboratory

Abstract

This minireview focuses on the microbiologic evaluation of patients with asymptomatic bacteriuria, as well as indications for antibiotic treatment. Asymptomatic bacteriuria is defined as two consecutive voided specimens (preferably within 2 weeks) with the same bacterial species, isolated in quantitative counts of ≥10 5 CFU/ml in women, including pregnant women; a single voided urine specimen with one bacterial species isolated in a quantitative count ≥10 5 CFU/ml in men; and a single catheterized urine specimen with one or more bacterial species isolated in a quantitative count of ≥10 5 CFU/ml in either women or men (or ≥10 2 CFU/ml of a single bacterial species from a single catheterized urine specimen).