Background: We evaluated the clinical significance of urine cultures from patients with an indwelling urinary catheter (UC) from which 2 different pathogens were isolated.
Methods: Urine cultures from patients with a UC from which 2 different organisms were isolated were randomly divided into a control group (culture results were reported as usual) and a study group (culture results were reported as "mixed growth"). Endpoints included change in antibiotic treatment, use of broad spectrum agents, time for clinical improvement, and duration of admission.
Results: A total of 81 cultures met the inclusion criteria. Antibiotic treatment was changed after 72-96 h in 19 (48%) study patients and in 25 (61%) controls (NS). There was no difference regarding narrowing or broadening of antibiotic spectrum, and duration of hospitalization was similar. In each group, 15 (36%) patients died.
Conclusion: Our findings imply that laboratory work-up of 2 pathogens from patients with an indwelling catheter may be discarded.
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