Condition Guide

UTI: Reading Your Urine Test Report

Urinary tract infections are among the most common infections in women. Here's exactly what your urine routine and culture results mean when UTI is suspected.

Written by Suman Konda, PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist · Based on peer-reviewed sources · Editorial policy · Not medical advice

Last updated: 01 August 2026 · How we check our content

Symptoms that suggest a UTI

Burning sensation or pain while urinating
Frequent urge to urinate, passing small amounts
Cloudy, dark or foul-smelling urine
Pain or pressure in lower abdomen or pelvis
Blood in urine (pink or red urine)
Fever, chills and back/flank pain (if infection has reached kidneys)

What the Urine Routine shows in a UTI

Finding	Normal	In UTI
Pus Cells (WBC)	0–5 per HPF	>5–10 per HPF
Bacteria	Nil	Present
Nitrites	Negative	Positive (gram-negative bacteria)
RBC	0–2 per HPF	May be elevated
Appearance	Clear	Cloudy/turbid
Odour	Normal	Foul / ammonia-like

What is Urine Culture and why does it matter?

Urine Culture: the definitive UTI test

The urine routine test tells you there IS an infection. The urine culture (C&S, culture and sensitivity) tells you WHICH bacteria is causing it and WHICH antibiotic will kill it. This takes 48–72 hours. Urine culture matters because antibiotic resistance is rising globally, E. coli (the most common UTI bug) is now resistant to many older antibiotics. A culture result prevents treating with the wrong antibiotic and helps avoid recurrent UTIs.

Most common UTI-causing bacteria

E. coli: 80% of uncomplicated UTIs
Klebsiella pneumoniae, especially in hospital-acquired UTIs
Staphylococcus saprophyticus: common in young sexually active women
Enterococcus: common in elderly men with prostate issues

When is a UTI serious (pyelonephritis)?

See a doctor urgently if you have: Fever above 38.5°C, shaking chills, pain in the back/flank (kidney area), nausea/vomiting, or if you are pregnant, diabetic, elderly or immunocompromised. These suggest the infection may have reached the kidneys (pyelonephritis), requiring IV antibiotics in hospital.

Questions to ask your doctor

Should I wait for the culture result before starting antibiotics?
Why do I keep getting recurrent UTIs?
Do I need a kidney ultrasound to rule out stones?
How much water should I drink daily to prevent recurrence?

Frequently Asked Questions

How is an urinary tract infection diagnosed?

Diagnosis is based on symptoms (burning, frequency, urgency) supported by an urine dipstick and, when needed, an urine culture that identifies the bacteria and the best antibiotic.

When does an UTI need urgent care?

Fever, back or flank pain, vomiting, or confusion (especially in older adults) can signal a kidney infection or sepsis and need prompt medical attention rather than routine treatment.

How can recurrent UTIs be prevented?

Staying well hydrated, not delaying urination, and, for some, post-intercourse measures or preventive strategies discussed with a doctor can reduce recurrence.

References

The clinical information on this page is drawn from peer-reviewed sources indexed by the US National Library of Medicine. Links go to the source so you can read it yourself.

Acute Pyelonephritis. In: StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing. NCBI Bookshelf NBK519537