• Semi-quantitative urine culture -Urine cultures are recommended prior to treatment to confirm that an empirical regimen provides appropriate coverage and to allow tailoring of the regimen on the basis of antimicrobial susceptibility data.
• Blood culture for patients with suspected bacteremia – hypotension, fevers with chills and features of sepsis with organ dysfunction.

Note:

• Culture specimens should not be obtained from the drainage bag
• Do not send urine culture from an asymptomatic patient with indwelling urinary catheter
• Pyuria in urinalysis is not useful in diagnosing CA-UTI
• Presence or absence of odorous or cloudy urine alone should not be used as an indication for urine culture