The presence of many squamous epithelial cells (SQEs) also indicates a poorly collected urine specimen. If many SQEs are noted upon microscopic examination, the specimen should be recollected. The patient must be instructed on how to collect a midstream, clean catch specimen.
A Gram stain of a fresh, midstream urine sample would provide information that could help the physician decide whether to prescribe an antibiotic, as well as the choice of antibiotic based on the Gram reaction of the bacteria.
- Examine a Gram-stained slide made from a drop of uncentrifuged urine under oil immersion (1000x) magnification.
- If more than one bacterial organism is observed per oil immersion field, it can be determined that the quantity of bacteria is >105 colony-forming units (CFU) per mL, and the patient probably has a urinary tract infection (UTI).
The Gram stain reaction would also be important. Most bacteria that cause UTIs are gram-negative Enterobacterales (formerly referred to as Enterobacteriaceae). A Gram stain report in this case would be "gram-negative bacilli consistent with quantity >105 CFU/mL."
