Office practice survey of urease positive bacterial pathogens causing urinary tract infections

Office patients with a positive urinary tract infection (UTI) were screened for the presence of a urease positive microorganism by a rapid biotyping. Approximately 12 per cent of the UTI episodes were caused by a urease positive organism. Over 95 per cent of Proteus and Klebisella isolates were urease positive, and a lesser percentage of Pseudomonas. No Escherichia coli were urease positive. Determination of urease production can be assessed by the standard API (Analytab Products Inc.) biotyping technique for gram negative organisms. A specific digit in the biotype code indicates urease activity.