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Overactive bladder in women: Does low‐count bacteriuria matter? A review
Author(s) -
Walsh Colin A.,
Moore Kate H.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
neurourology and urodynamics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.918
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1520-6777
pISSN - 0733-2467
DOI - 10.1002/nau.20927
Subject(s) - bacteriuria , dysuria , medicine , nocturia , overactive bladder , urology , urinary system , intensive care medicine , gynecology , alternative medicine , pathology
Since the description of the overactive bladder (OAB) syndrome, which excludes infection, the precise definition of significant bacteriuria in these women is critical. The traditional definition of ‘significant’ bacteriuria is >10 5 colony‐forming units/ml which was described 50 years ago by a renal physician whose primary interest was the prevention of pyelonephritis. Subsequent studies have shown this to be an insensitive threshold in women with acute lower urinary tract symptoms. Bacterial counts between 10 2 and 10 5 CFU/ml (‘low‐count bacteriuria’) are now considered important in women with acute dysuria and warrant treatment. However, these findings have been slow to translate into routine clinical practice. In addition, the role of low‐count bacteriuria in women with OAB symptoms (frequency/urgency/nocturia) without dysuria is poorly studied. One recent study has shown low‐count bacteriuria to be more prevalent among women with severe OAB than bacteriuria >10 5 CFU/ml. We present an outline of the history of this issue and summarise current microbiological and clinical concepts. Neurourol. Urodynam. 30:32–37, 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.