TABLE 2

Ordering urine cultures: Appropriate and inappropriate signs and symptoms to document

Urinary catheter statusAppropriate sign or symptomInappropriate sign
Patient without a urinary catheterDysuria, suprapubic pain, flank pain, costovertebral angle tenderness, septic shockAltered mental status, change in urine characteristics
Patient with a urinary catheterDysuria, suprapubic pain, flank pain, costovertebral angle tenderness, or septic shockChange in urine characteristics
  • Based on information in reference 1.