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Why Is An Antibiotic Necessary Before A Bladder Ultrasound After Ruling Out UTI?
Posted on
Thu, 19 Jan 2017
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Thu, 19 Jan 2017
Answered on
Tue, 7 Feb 2017
Last reviewed on
Question : I'm a 35 year old female. I had a urinalysis done on 12/27 and a repeat on 1/15 (reports attached). Both show urine in the blood and they ruled out a UTI. I'm not experiencing any symptoms and I'm otherwise healthy. I went to the urologist today and he ordered a urine cytology and CT scan. I am scheduled for a follow up in two weeks for the results and at that time they will do a bladder ultra sound. He instructed me to take CIPRO the day of the ultra sound. Is this common practice? Why am I taking an antibiotic if they've ruled out infection and why am I waiting two weeks? He also said kidney stones are not likely. I'd like your thoughts on this. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Brief Answer:
Obstruction and kidney inflammation are to be ruled out.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.
I have gone carefully through the query and understand your concerns. Glomerulonephritis or inflammation of the filtering units of the kidneys, is a possibility to consider (for blood in urine). However, the level of protein in urine is not significantly raised. Obstruction somewhere in the tract is another possible cause that needs to be ruled out. Ultrasond and/or CT of KUB (kidney, ureters, bladder) should be done. It is not a common practice to give ciprofloxacin before ultrasound and somehow I would not justify it especially when they have already ruled out infection. I assume that it is to transiently sterilize your urine or urinary tract since urine contains bacteria even when there is no infection. If you take it, you should complete the course. Possibly two weeks has been allowed for progression (since present findings are not conclusive). However, I do not consider that concrete.
Let me know if there is something that I could specifically help you with.
Regards
Obstruction and kidney inflammation are to be ruled out.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.
I have gone carefully through the query and understand your concerns. Glomerulonephritis or inflammation of the filtering units of the kidneys, is a possibility to consider (for blood in urine). However, the level of protein in urine is not significantly raised. Obstruction somewhere in the tract is another possible cause that needs to be ruled out. Ultrasond and/or CT of KUB (kidney, ureters, bladder) should be done. It is not a common practice to give ciprofloxacin before ultrasound and somehow I would not justify it especially when they have already ruled out infection. I assume that it is to transiently sterilize your urine or urinary tract since urine contains bacteria even when there is no infection. If you take it, you should complete the course. Possibly two weeks has been allowed for progression (since present findings are not conclusive). However, I do not consider that concrete.
Let me know if there is something that I could specifically help you with.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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