sterile pyuria
Last reviewed 07/2021
Sterile pyuria is the presence of elevated numbers of white cells (>10/cubic mm) in a urine which appears sterile using standard culture techniques.
The causes of sterile pyuria include:
- a treated urinary tract infection (UTI) within 2 weeks of treatment/inadequately treated (UTI)
- UTI with fastidious culture requirement
- renal stones
- prostatitis
- chlamydia urethritis
- renal papillary necrosis (e.g. from analgesic excess)
- tubulo-interstitial nephritis
- genitourinary tuberculosis (always consider - do 3 early morning urines)
- interstitial cystitis
- urinary tract neoplasm
- polycystic kidney