Abstract
The urinary tract accounts for nearly one third of all infections in the long-term care setting. This article reviews factors that influence nitrite and leukocyte esterase results obtained from traditional urine dipstick analysis for assessment of urinary tract infections in elderly long-term care residents. This article also proposes a protocol for a urine dipstick pressed into an incontinence pad as an alternative to dipstick analysis of a clean-catch or catheterized urine specimen.