Quantity and Quality in the Diagnosis of Urinary Tract Infections 1

SUMMARY Each patient under investigation for urinary tract infection should have a full series of specimens examined, diagnostic or pre‐treatment, during treatment, and for clearance and follow‐up. Quantitative examination should be carried out in combination with a careful interpretation of the quality of the microflora present, its relative proportions, the presence or absence of antibiotic substance, the time interval between sampling and examination, the method of collection, and the results interpreted in the light of knowledge of the previous history of the case.