Risk factors for bacteriuria due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Enterococcus spp in patients hospitalized via the emergency department

To determine the incidence and risk factors related to isolation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Enterococcus spp from urine cultures obtained from patients in the emergency department (ED), a 1-year prospective study was conducted of all urine specimens collected in the ED of a general hospital. Specimens from which one of these organisms was isolated at a concentration of ≥10⁵ cfu/ml were included. Of 744 positive urine cultures, 39 (5%) were P. aeruginosa and 28 (4%) Enterococcus spp. Comparison with a control cohort of 80 patients with Escherichia coli bacteriuria revealed several univariate indicators for P. aeruginosa bacteriuria, including male sex, indwelling catheter, past prostatectomy, hospitalization in the previous 2 months and pregnancy; multivariate indicators were indwelling catheter (p<0.001) and male sex (p<0.001). Enterococcus and P. aeruginosa were significantly more often associated with asymptomatic bacteriuria. These data will help clinicians select appropriate antibiotic treatment for patients with urinary tract infections.