Urine culture is generally divided into three steps, namely urine specimen collection – quantitative culture – giving results. The urine specimen collection is the most involved operation for the patient and requires extra attention, and the last two steps need to be performed by professional laboratory personnel.
The method of urine specimen collection needs to be determined according to the patient’s condition, as follows.
1.Steps for urine specimen collection from general patients ：
(1) Receive a sterile container after registration.
(2) Affix the identification barcode on the container and confirm that the relevant information is correct.
(3) After ensuring that the perineum is clean, pull open the labia or flip the foreskin and perform uninterrupted urination, discard the anterior urine (i.e., the urine at the beginning of urination) when taking the sample, leaving only about 10 ml of the middle urine (i.e., the urine in the middle part of urination), i.e., 1/3 cup in the sterile container.
(4) Tighten the lid after the sample is taken and send the urine sample for examination immediately to avoid contamination.
2. Steps for collecting urine specimens from bedridden patients.
(1) Assist the patient to take a prone or semi-prone position.
(2) Place the bedpan under the buttocks to avoid contamination of the bed linen.
(3) Cooperate with medical staff to clean and disinfect the vulva and urethral orifice.
(4) Urinating on command, with the health care provider collecting mid-stage urine (>10 ml).
(5) Arranging clothing after urine collection.
(6) The health care worker closes the lid of the test tube tightly, affixes the test sheet attachment and sends it for examination.
3.If the patient cannot urinate by himself, he needs to collect the urine specimen through a catheter, and the specific steps are as follows.
(1) The patient is placed in a supine position with both legs bent at the knees and naturally separated.
(2) The health care provider places a rubber sheet and treatment towel under the patient’s buttocks.
(3) The health care provider should use sterile water or benzalkonium bromide to disinfect the perineum and urethral orifice, and the patient should cooperate with the procedure.
(4) The health care worker applies sterile lubricant to the front of the catheter.
(5) The health care provider inserts the catheter through the urethra into the patient’s bladder until urine flows from the catheter.
(6) After urine has flowed, the healthcare provider retains mid-stream urine (>10 ml) for urine culture.
(7) If the catheter is not retained after urination, the catheter can be removed and the vulva wiped; if the catheter needs to be retained, the health care worker will perform the operation of retaining the catheter.
4.Steps for collecting urine specimens from infants.
(1) Disinfection of their perineum by parents or health care personnel.
(2) Align the sterile container directly to the urethral opening.
(3) Immediately after urination, cover and send for examination.