RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 The interpretation of bacteriuria JF Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin JO Drug Ther Bull FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd SP 51 OP 52 DO 10.1136/dtb.1.13.51 VO 1 IS 13 YR 1963 UL http://dtb.bmj.com/content/1/13/51.abstract AB Effective antibacterial therapy in many acute and all chronic or recurrent urinary infections requires identification of the infecting bacteria by smear or culture. Since bacteria are often present in the absence of infection, however, quantitative culture is being used increasingly to distinguish urinary tract infection from contamination. It is also recommended as a screening measure in pregnancy, diabetes mellitus, hypertensive disease, and other conditions in which asymptomatic urinary infection is a special danger.