Table 2.

Guidelines on interpretation of urine dipstick results and management options for UTI in children

Dipstick urinalysis results	Recommended plan of action
Positive leukocyte esterase and nitrite tests	Antibiotic treatment for UTI Urine culture if risk of serious illness is highor intermediate and past history of UTI
Negative leukocyte esterase and positive nitrite tests Positive leukocyte esterase and negative nitrite tests	Antibiotic treatment Urine culture Antibiotic treatment only with good clinical evidence of UTI Urine culture and treatment based on results
Negative leukocyte and nitrite tests	Antibiotic treatment and urine culture not necessary

Note: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (2007) adapted from CG54 Urinary tract infection in under 16s: Diagnosis and management. Manchester: NICE. Available from https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg54.³⁸ The material was accurate at the time of going to press.

Abbreviations: UTI, urinary tract infection; NICE, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.