Can Bladder TB Be Culture Negative?

Posted on Wed, 13 Jan 2021

Question: Can bladder TB be culture negative? In my case it is suspected because I have persistent UTI and cystitis for 6 months that did not go even with Meropenem and Fosfomycin.
The culture has shown MDR ESBL E coli every time.
Pus cell count very high to 1500 .CT scan has not shown anything significant .
Kindly advise what can be done as it has completely hampered my usual life.

Answered by Dr. Dr. P. T. Patil (36 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Please provide few more details

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thanks for the query .

Based on the facts that you have posted you seem to have Chronic Cystitis,

I shall be happy if you can post me more details to help me in making precise comments
1) What are your Gender and Age?
2) Was urine culture done on urine sample passed and collected over a period of 24 hours?
3) Is it possible to upload Urine culture report?

Expecting your feedback. Please do write if you have more questions...

Thanks and Regards.
Dr. Patil.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. P. T. Patil (41 hours later)

Hello Doctor
thankyou so much for your response.
Actually the Gender and Age details were entered seems those are not visible.

Age-32
Gender-Female
Profession-Counsellor and Teacher

The urine culture and tests done were on only one sample collected which was the first urine.It was not done through collection of urine over 24 hours .

I shall upload both the last culture reports.
Last Antibiotic I was on was Nitrofuran that was stopped a week ago .Now there would be another culture done without antibiotics as asked by my doc here.
The AFB culture is negative and my symptoms persist.
Also I had entered my history that I am a RA patient and I have been on Methotrexate 25 mg inj every week which has now been stopped temporarily for the infection recovery.
No cystoscopy done so far.

Answered by Dr. Dr. P. T. Patil (5 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Need to consult qualified Urologist for Cystoscopic examination

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thanks for follow up and feedback

You probably seem to have Chronic Cystitis due to E-Coli organisms which are resistant to most commonly used antibiotics (No culture report available )

I would suggest you to consult qualified Urologist for clinical examination and get following basic tests done to help to establish diagnosis
and cause for infection
1) Ultrasound Scanning of abdomen and pelvis
2) Endoscopic examination of bladder (Cystosopy)
3) Repeat urine culture

Please upload all the reports for making precise comments and suggestions

Thanks and Regards.
Dr Patil

Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar