UTI test used by GPs gives wrong results in at least a fifth of cases, study claims

A test that is routinely used by doctors to diagnose urinary tract infections wrongly gives a negative result in a fifth of cases, scientists have found.

The findings imply that a large proportion of women who seek medical help for UTIs such as cystitis are being misdiagnosed, with some being told their problem is psychological. Many women with severe symptoms are also likely to have been refused antibiotics.

Stefan Heytens, a practicing GP and a researcher at the University of Ghent, said: “A substantial percentage of women visiting their GP with symptoms of a UTI, who test negative for a bacterial infection, are told they have no infection and sent home without treatment.”

Rather than using unreliable tests, he said, women should be diagnosed and treated on the basis of their symptoms.

Each year an estimated four million people, the vast majority women, will have a bout of cystitis. It typically involves bladder pain, an intense burning sensation when passing urine and the need to urinate urgently, sometimes several times an hour.

While unpleasant and inconvenient, cystitis normally clears without medicine within a couple of days. But if symptoms are severe or linger and antibiotics are required, GPs often carry out a “dipstick” test using a litmus-style indicator or send a urine sample to a microbiology lab, where it is cultured to see whether harmful bacteria is present.

In at least a fifth of cases, these tests come back negative, and doctors had been at a loss to explain what was wrong with this subset of patients. Some have been diagnosed with unexplained “urethral syndrome” while for others it has been suggested the root cause might be psychological.

The latest work proposes a third explanation: the tests are at fault.

The study, published in Clinical Microbiology and Infection, recruited 220 women who were visiting their GP for UTI symptoms and 86 healthy volunteers, all of whom gave urine samples.

The standard culture test detected bacteria in 81% of the samples. But a more advanced technique, designed to spot tiny quantities of bacterial DNA, found evidence of an infection in 98% of the women with symptoms.

Only about 10% of the healthy women tested positive for bacteria such as E. coli, suggesting that the results were not simply explained by trace levels of bacteria that are always present.

The authors are not sure why some infections failed to grow in culture. “The microbiologists in our institution do not have the slightest idea,” said Heygens. “They are just surprised that their test is not as infallible as they thought.”

However, he had this advice for doctors: “The woman that is visiting you with typical urinary complaints has an infection. There is nothing more to explore.”

The findings come after researchers concluded last year that cranberry juice, traditionally recommended by doctors as a natural cure, has no discernible effect on cystitis.

Prof James Malone Lee, who runs a specialist clinic for chronic UTIs at Whittington Hospital in London, highlighted the inadequacies of current testing in parliament last year. “The patients attending our centre describe frequent occurrences of them presenting with typical symptoms of urinary infection but being denied treatment because the tests are negative,” he said. “They are told emphatically that nothing is wrong.”

The consequences for the minority of women who suffer chronic infections could be devastating, he added. “It is appalling that patients coming to our centre have been told that their problems are psychological,” he said. “We have got to accept that our tests are discredited and we must start to consider what happens to those who go untreated because they tested negative.”

Prof Helen Stokes-Lampard, chair of the Royal College of GPs, said the vast majority of women who present at their GP surgery with a UTI are given a test aimed at identifying infection. “GPs rely on the results of these tests, so if [they are] ineffective in properly determining the type of infection – as this research suggests the urine test is – it is certainly concerning, and it needs to be addressed,” she said.

UTI test used by GPs gives wrong results in at least a fifth of cases, study claims

Fifth Bristol university student takes own life this academic year

A third-year languages student is understood to have killed herself in the fifth case this year of suspected suicide involving students at the University of Bristol.

Elsa Scaburri, who was studying for a degree in French and Italian, was halfway through her year abroad. According to a statement released by the university, she died last week near her home, which is understood to be in Wiltshire.

An inquest has been opened and adjourned. A University of Bristol spokesperson said: “We were very saddened to hear that one of our third-year students, Elsa Scaburri, sadly died near her home last week.

“We understand from her family that Elsa took her own life, although it will be for the coroner to determine the cause of death.

“Elsa was halfway through a year abroad as part of her French and Italian degree. The university offers its condolences to her family and friends and our thoughts are with them at this very sad time.”

Her death will once again raise concerns about mental health among students and the capacity of universities to address growing demand for support.

Three Bristol students – philosophy student Miranda Williams, 19, history student Daniel Green, 18, and Kim Long, 18, who was studying law, died late last year in their first term at university. Final-year neuroscience student Lara Nosiru, 23, also studying at Bristol and originally from Essex, was found dead in Avon Gorge in January.

Following last year’s deaths, the university said it did not believe there was a link between any of the incidents and insisted annual figures did not show any trends. In the last academic year Bristol had one death by suicide; there were none the year before that, and one the previous year.

A review has been under way at Bristol to find out how best to support students with mental health needs. The number of staff in support services has been increased and additional funding has been put into the system to meet growing demand.

A Guardian investigation last year revealed that the number of students seeking counselling at university has risen by 50% in the past five years. And a report in September by the Higher Education Policy Institute thinktank said some institutions needed to triple their spending on mental health services to meet increased demand.

Students have a lower suicide rate than the general population, but it appears to have grown. Figures from the Office for National Statistics show that in 2014 there were 130 deaths by suicide of full-time students aged 18 and over in England and Wales. This compares with 112 in 2011, and 75 in 2007. The increase can be explained in part by the growing university population, which has doubled since 1997 and now stands at 2 million.

“The welfare of our students and staff continues to be our highest priority and it is distressing for all members of the university community that one of our students has died,” the University of Bristol spokesperson said. “We would urge any students affected by this tragic incident to seek support from university services, friends or family.

“In the context of increasing national concerns about student mental health we have been working with our staff and students to review how best to support all students including those with enduring mental health difficulties.

“We have increased staffing levels in our support services and have committed to invest an additional £1m per year to provide wellbeing support for students in each academic school. We will also be signing the Time to Change pledge to help reduce the stigma of discussing mental health issues.”

In the UK, the Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Hotline is 1-800-273-8255. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is on 13 11 14. Hotlines in other countries can be found here

Fifth Bristol university student takes own life this academic year

Mental illness has an effect on a fifth of youthful Australians

1 in 5 younger Australians are dealing with mental sickness, but much more than 60% felt unpleasant in search of expert aid, in accordance to a new report by Mission Australia and the Black Dog Institute.

The review of 15- to 19-year-olds across the nation located 21% of the 15,000 surveyed had been battling a probable psychological sickness. The charge between females in that age group was much increased than amongst young guys – 26% compared with 14%.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and young individuals with a disability had been also much more likely to be experiencing psychological illness.

But less than forty% felt cozy seeking info, advice or assistance from community agencies, online counselling or telephone hotlines.

“The confronting findings in this report illustrate the important challenges several of our younger people are dealing with when it comes to psychological distress and mental wellness issues,” Mission Australia’s CEO, Catherine Yeomans, mentioned on Wednesday.

“We know that a lot of of our youth are struggling with complicated problems, and it’s impacting on their ability to transition with self-confidence into adulthood.”

Yeomans explained early intervention and help is crucial to help people vulnerable.

The Youth Mental Well being Report was based mostly on a survey that asked respondents to response concerns about their experiences of anxiety and depressive signs over a period of 4 weeks.

• Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can speak to Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Suicide Get in touch with Back Services 1300 659 467.

Mental illness has an effect on a fifth of youthful Australians

A&E targets missed for fifth straight week

For the duration of the initial week of June some twenty,000 patients or 94.three per cent or patients attending A&ampE units waited much more than 4 hrs to be noticed, missing the official target of 95 per cent.

It marked the fifth consecutive week that the 95 per cent benchmark, which is widely utilised as a barometer for troubles inside of the wellness service, right after falling quick for the whole of May possibly.

Separate figures published on Friday recommend cancer patients are suffering from escalating delays in the delivery of essential tests.

The amount of men and women waiting longer than the target time of six weeks for an MRI or CT scan has doubled in the previous yr and reached its highest level since 2008, The Guardian reported.

Final month The Telegraph exposed that the nationwide target of 85 per cent of sufferers commencing therapy inside the target time of 62 days had been breached for the first time.

Official figures published on Friday display that in April some 16,981 sufferers waited far more than six weeks to be tested for cancer, the highest variety since February 2008.

The figure is far more than double the seven,788 sufferers who waited longer than 6 weeks final June and virtually 5 occasions the figure of 3,495 in April 2010.

The information was published as Department of Overall health announced that a one-off payment of £250 million will be ploughed into the NHS to help keep waiting instances for elective surgery sufferers down.

A&E targets missed for fifth straight week

Smoking "increases chance of breast cancer in older ladies by practically a fifth"

Smoking increases the danger of breast cancer in older girls by practically a fifth, a examine has located. The discovery adds to a developing fat of evidence linking exposure to tobacco smoke with the ailment.

US scientists who tracked the progress of all around 186,000 women aged 50 to 71 located that these who smoked were 19% more probably to produce breast cancer than those who had in no way smoked. Females who when smoked but then kicked the habit have been still 7% more at risk.

The final results held real even following accounting for alcohol consumption, which is a breast cancer danger issue that is much more frequent among smokers.

In 2009 the Global Agency for Study on Cancer concluded there was “limited proof” that smoking tobacco could set off breast cancer. But in the final few many years findings have led to a U-turn in expert view.

Last 12 months, researchers from the American Cancer Society reported outcomes displaying a 24% increased rate of breast cancer amid women who smoked.

The danger was much better amongst people who began smoking younger, both before they began menstruating or ahead of getting their initial kid.

The new study, published in the British Journal of Cancer, covered a time period of about 10 years. In the course of this time, 7,500 of the females have been diagnosed with breast cancer.

Dr Sarah Nyante, from the US National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland, said: “Our review adds to a developing entire body of proof that suggests an association in between cigarette smoking and increased breast cancer risk.

“Previous research have investigated this connection, but queries remained regarding the extent to which other breast cancer chance factors, such as alcohol consumption, may influence the results. A lot more work is now essential to recognize the mechanisms behind the website link among smoking and breast cancer in publish-menopausal girls.”

While other life style factors such as being overweight, consuming alcohol and lack of exercise are all acknowledged to improve breast cancer threat in publish-menopausal females, the part of smoking has been much more challenging to unravel.

Smoking is the biggest preventable trigger of cancer around the world. The habit is linked not only to lung cancer but cancers of the larynx, oesophagus, oral cavity, pharynx, bladder, pancreas, kidney, liver, stomach and bowel.

In the previous 50 years, it is estimated that six.5 million folks in the Uk have died from tobacco-relevant illnesses.

Dr Julie Sharp, head of health info at Cancer Investigation United kingdom, which owns the British Journal of Cancer, said: “Evidence remains inconsistent as to no matter whether smoking triggers breast cancer soon after as effectively as prior to the menopause, but this examine suggests it may possibly enhance a post-menopausal woman’s threat of breast cancer if she smokes or has smoked in the past.

“Quitting is not straightforward but, provided that smokers drop an common of ten many years of lifestyle in contrast to non-smokers, the advantages are enormous.”

Smoking "increases chance of breast cancer in older ladies by practically a fifth"

Female genital mutilation has an effect on a fifth of younger girls in sub-Saharan Africa

About 140 million girls and ladies throughout the world are living with the consequences of FGM, which is mainly carried out on younger ladies amongst infancy and age 15. Photograph: Finbarr O’Reilly/Reuters

Practically one in five younger ladies in sub-Saharan Africa are nonetheless forced to endure female genital mutilation (FGM), in accordance to a UN report that paints a grim image of the state of the world’s young children.

Statistics launched by Unicef, the UN agency for youngsters, in Every youngster counts: revealing disparities, advancing children’s rights, published on Thursday, displays problems this kind of as violence, kid marriage and FGM are widespread across some of the world’s poorest nations. The release of the figures comes ahead of the 25th anniversary of the convention on the rights of the little one in November.

Unicef refers to figures published final 12 months in its 1st report summarising and analysing information from the 29 countries in Africa the place FGM is the most prevalent. Eighteen of these countries are in west and central Africa. In 2012, the UN common assembly passed a resolution demanding greater efforts to remove the practice. The resolution exclusively known as for data to be collected utilizing common methods and requirements.

FGM, recognised internationally as a violation of the human rights of ladies and females, can result in significant bleeding and issues urinating. It can also lead to cysts, infections, infertility and problems in childbirth. About 140 million women and ladies globally are residing with the consequences of FGM, which is largely carried out on young women between infancy and age 15.

The Unicef report highlights the value of information in creating progress for youngsters and exposing the unequal access to companies and protections.

“Information has created it attainable to save and increase the lives of millions of youngsters, specifically the most deprived,” said Tessa Wardlaw, head of Unicef’s data and analytics area. “Even more progress can only be produced if we know which young children are the most neglected, exactly where women and boys are out of school, the place illness is rampant, or exactly where basic sanitation is lacking.”

The figures present that almost 4-fifths of the world’s young children are subject to violent discipline – defined as physical punishment or psychological aggression – at house or in college. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which has been plagued by conflict for decades, 92% of kids encounter physical violence at college or at house.

“In countries of conflict, young children are in danger of seeing violence as a element of each day life – frequently witnessing horrific scenes of fighting and then encountering more violent acts at house or school,” says Unicef. “Kids who experience violence can often go on to commit it themselves, which makes breaking the cycle vital.”

Costs of child marriage are large, with around one in 10 ladies in the world being married ahead of the age of 15 – jeopardising their rights to well being, schooling and protection. Ladies in Central African Republic are now almost twice as probably to be forced into marriage by the age of 15 in contrast with ladies in Afghanistan (29% and 15% respectively). A lot more than a third of ladies in Niger are married before they attain the age of 15.

Figures reveal large disparities among rich and bad families, specifically in deaths of underneath-fives. Higher-income countries accounted for eleven% of the world under-five population in 2012, but only one.4% of global under-5 deaths. Reduced-income nations accounted for all around 20% of the world’s below-5 population, but had one-third of under-five deaths.

Of the approximately 18,000 young children under five who die every single day – six.6 million kids under 5 died in 2012 – a disproportionate amount are from locations of cites or the countryside that are cut off from providers since of poverty or geography. Despite the fact that diarrhoea can be handled efficiently and cheaply with oral rehydration salts, children with diarrhoea from the richest houses are up to 4 occasions a lot more likely to be treated than people from the poorest properties.

Some 15% of the world’s young children are concerned in kid labour, infringing on their right to learn and play.

But Unicef’s data also exhibits gains manufactured in the last decade: about 90 million more children would have died had mortality prices stayed at their 1990 level (before the 2000 millennium growth objectives were launched) and deaths from measles among beneath-fives fell from 482,000 in 2000 to 86,000, thanks in massive part to elevated immunisation.

Female genital mutilation has an effect on a fifth of younger girls in sub-Saharan Africa