What are the Epidemiological Implications of Positive Leukocyte Esterase?
A positive leukocyte esterase test can have several epidemiological implications:
1. Prevalence: High rates of positive tests in a population may indicate a high prevalence of UTIs. 2. Risk Factors: Patterns in positive tests can help identify risk factors such as age, sex, sexual activity, and underlying health conditions. 3. Antibiotic Resistance: Monitoring UTIs through leukocyte esterase tests can also provide insight into patterns of antibiotic resistance, which is a growing public health concern. 4. Healthcare Utilization: High rates of UTIs can lead to increased healthcare utilization, including visits to healthcare providers and use of antibiotics.
