Bacteriological state of the urine in symptom-free adult males

Mid-stream urine specimens from 120 symptom-free males aged between 15 and 60 years were examined for cells and bacteria. Only 3 specimens showed pyuria, all of which yielded fastidious organisms. No specimen yielded a pure growth of an aerobe. Fastidious organisms in pure or mixed growth were isolated from 26% of the specimens, none in a count greater than 10(8)/l and the majority in counts less than 10(7)/l. It was concluded that pure growths of aerobes in any count in patients with symptoms are indicative of infection. Fastidious organisms should be sought in the urine of patients with symptoms or pyuria before more intensive and expensive investigations are pursued.