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Unnecessary urine cultures frequently lead to inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions and increased antimicrobial resistance. This problem often arises when clinicians misclassify asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) as a symptomatic infection. Consequently, hospitals must adopt robust urine testing stewardship protocols to ensure diagnostic accuracy. A recent prospective quality improvement study has demonstrated how technology-leveraged guidelines can bridge this gap in clinical practice.
Researchers at a 740-bed tertiary care hospital implemented an algorithm-based best practice alert (BPA) within the electronic medical record (EMR). This system activated whenever a clinician ordered a urinalysis with reflex to culture (UACC) for adult patients hospitalized for 48 hours or more. The BPA provided an automated workflow to guide providers toward appropriate indications. Therefore, the intervention directly addressed the common habit of reflexively ordering cultures without clear clinical symptoms.
The study results were significant. Over a 12-month post-intervention period, the rate of urine testing fell from 6.45 to 4.41 tests per 1,000 patient-days. This represents a 31.6% reduction in testing volume. Additionally, the researchers monitored safety by tracking Gram-negative rod (GNR) bacteremia rates. They found no increase in these rates, suggesting that reducing unnecessary cultures did not lead to missed or delayed diagnoses of serious infections.
Diagnostic stewardship serves as a primary pillar of broader antimicrobial stewardship efforts. By integrating clinical decision support into the EMR, healthcare systems can successfully reduce low-value testing. Furthermore, these digital tools help standardize care and decrease the cognitive burden on busy hospitalists. Reducing unnecessary cultures eventually prevents the cascade of over-treatment that harms patients through drug side effects and healthcare-associated infections.
Urine testing stewardship involves implementing protocols and tools to ensure that urine cultures are only performed when clinically indicated. This prevents the misdiagnosis and over-treatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria.
BPAs provide real-time guidance within the EMR. They prompt clinicians to document specific symptoms or indications before a culture order can proceed, effectively reducing reflexive or "pan-culturing" behaviors.
Evidence suggests that algorithm-based stewardship does not compromise safety. In the evaluated study, Gram-negative rod bacteremia rates remained stable even as urine testing rates dropped by over 30%.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions regarding a medical condition. Refer to the latest local and national guidelines for clinical practice.
References
1. Ostrowski CJ et al. Improving urine testing stewardship with a technology-leveraged urine testing guideline. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2026 Apr 28. doi: 10.1017/ice.2026.10430. PMID: 42047178.
2. Krouss M, et al. CDS EHR Integration Reduces Inappropriate Urine Culture Orders. Am J Infect Control. 2023 Mar;51(3):289-294.
3. Werneburg GT, Rhoads DD. Diagnostic Stewardship for Urinary Tract Infection: A Snapshot of the Expert Guidance. Cleve Clin J Med. 2023 Jan;90(1):34-40.
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