Sterile Pyuria

Abstract

Pyuria is defined as the presence of 10 or more white cells per cubic millimeter in a urine specimen, 3 or more white cells per high-power field of unspun urine, a positive result on Gram’s staining of an unspun urine specimen, or a urinary dipstick test that is positive for leukocyte esterase.1 Sterile pyuria is the persistent finding of white cells in the urine in the absence of bacteria, as determined by means of aerobic laboratory techniques (on a 5% sheep-blood agar plate and MacConkey agar plate). Sterile pyuria is a highly prevalent condition, and population-based studies show that 13.9% . . .