Pyuria as predictor of bacteriuria in catheterized patients

Six hundred and nine urine samples were analyzed for pyuria to assess its efficacy as a predictor of bacteriuria, in catheterized patients, using different techniques of pus cells estimation. In 235 and 323 urine samples, pus cells were counted per high power field in centrifuged and uncentrifuged urine respectively, while in 51 urine samples pus cells were counted per cubic millimeter in uncentrifuged urine. All the urine samples were simultaneously cultured. Pyuria (pus cells > 10/HPF or CMM) was correlated with bacteriuria (colony count > 10(5) per ml). The overall efficacy of pyuria as a predictor of bacteriuria was low (52.01-60.78%) and there was no significant difference among the different techniques. It was concluded that pyuria as predictor of bacteriuria is the least reliable technique to be recommended in routine clinical practice.