(In all ages) NICE recommends that urine culture is indicated in the following cases [1]:
- Infants and children who are suspected to have acute pyelonephritis/upper urinary tract infection
- Infants and children with a high to intermediate risk of serious illness
- Infants under 3months
- Infants and children with a positive result for leukocyte esterase or nitrite
- Infants and children with recurrent UTI
- Infants and children with an infection that does not respond to treatment within 24–48hours, if no sample has already been sent
- When clinical symptoms and dipstick tests do not correlate.
If urine samples can be sent in a sterile pot, but if they will not be cultured within 4 hours then they should be refrigerated or preserved in boric acid [1]. Ensure you are aware of your local microbiology guidance to reduce the risk of samples being wasted.