Author(s)

André Nagalo^1,2*, Odilon D. Kaboré¹, Senkaye-Lagom Aimée Kissou³, Hervé Kafando⁴, Boukary Kabré⁵, Emmanuel Zongo¹, Cheick Ahmed Ouattara⁶, Yacouba Sawadogo¹, Aoua Semdé⁷, Jacques Zoungrana⁸, Armel Poda⁸, Sylvain Godreuil⁹, Abdoul-Salam Ouédraogo¹

¹Bacteriology-Virology Laboratory, Sourô Sanou University Hospital, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso.
²Biomedical Analysis Laboratory, Regional University Hospital of Ouahigouya, Ouahigouya, Burkina Faso.
³Department of Medical Pediatrics, Sourô Sanou University Hospital, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso.
⁴Bacteriology-Virology Laboratory, Yalgado Ouedraogo University Hospital, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
⁵Department of Urology-Andrology, Regional Hospital of Tenkodogo, Tenkodogo, Burkina Faso.
⁶Information, Epidemiology, Research and Planning Department, Sourô Sanou University Hospital, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso.
⁷Department of Nephrology-Hemodialysis, Sourô Sanou University Hospital, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso.
⁸Department of Infectious Diseases, Sourô Sanou University Hospital, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso.
⁹Laboratory of Bacteriology of the Arnaud de Villeneuve University Hospital, Montpellier, France.

Background: Urinary Tract Infection (UTI), a prevalent bacterial infection in adults, heavily relies on cytobacteriological examination of urine (CBEU) for diagnosis. However, in resource-limited countries, accessibility to CBEU remains hindered by cost and availability. This study aims to assess the utility of the Urinary Dipstick Test (UDT) in diagnosing UTIs among hospitalized patients in the context of limited resources. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from February to May 2019, encompassing hospitalized patients who underwent CBEU at the bacteriology unit of Sour? Sanou University Hospital. UDT and CBEU were concurrently performed, and UDT’s analytical and diagnostic performance was evaluated against CBEU, considered the gold standard. Results: A total of 274 CBEU requests were registered, involving 274 patients (159 males) with a mean age of 45.8 ± 21.3 years (ranging from 1 to 90 years). UTI was confirmed in 90 patients, yielding a frequency of 32.85%. The UTI bacteriological profile was dominated by Enterobacteriaceae (75.23%), primarily Escherichia coli (60.55%). Nitrite and Leukocytes were positive in 54 (19.8%) and 157 (53.6%) of the samples tested. Among patients with confirmed UTI, Nitrite, and Leukocytes were positive in 30 (33%) and 71 (79%) patients respectively. UDT demonstrated variable performance based on nitrite and leukocyte combination: Sensitivity (57%-82%), Specificity (7%-98%), Positive Predictive Value (PPV) (43%-57%), Negative Predictive Value (NPV) (43%-67%). UDT performed slightly better in women (NPV = 88%) and inpatients without urinary catheters (NPV = 75% and PPV = 80%). Conclusion: This study underscores UDT’s potential utility in excluding UTIs among women, younger patients, and inpatients without urinary catheters, albeit with limited confidence. The UDT emerges as a complementary tool for UTI screening, particularly in resource-limited settings.

Urine Dipstick Test, Urinary Tract Infection, LMICs, Burkina Faso

Nagalo, A. , Kaboré, O. , Kissou, S. , Kafando, H. , Kabré, B. , Zongo, E. , Ouattara, C. , Sawadogo, Y. , Semdé, A. , Zoungrana, J. , Poda, A. , Godreuil, S. and Ouédraogo, A. (2023) Can the Urine Dipstick Test Be an Alternative in the Screening of Urinary Tract Infections for Inpatients in the Context of a Low-Income Country?. Advances in Infectious Diseases, 13, 627-640. doi: 10.4236/aid.2023.134051.