Asymptomatic Bacteriuria: ABFM practice questions

4 board-style questions on asymptomatic bacteriuria in the PulseMD family medicine question bank — physician-reviewed, written against current guidelines with the reference cited on each question. Two free samples below; the full set with answers, explanations, and spaced review is free to start.

Sample question 1

An 83-year-old nursing home resident without dementia has a urine culture growing 100,000 CFU/mL of Escherichia coli, collected during an evaluation of chronic stable fatigue. She has no fever, dysuria, frequency, suprapubic pain, or change in mental status. Urinalysis shows pyuria. What is the most appropriate management?

1. Nitrofurantoin for five days with a follow-up culture
2. No antibiotics; this represents asymptomatic bacteriuria
3. Ciprofloxacin for seven days given her age and setting
4. Daily cranberry supplementation and a repeat culture monthly

Sample question 2

A 27-year-old woman at 14 weeks gestation has a routine prenatal urine culture growing 100,000 CFU/mL of E. coli. She has no urinary symptoms. What is the most appropriate management?

1. Treat with an appropriate antibiotic and confirm cure with repeat culture
2. Withhold antibiotics, as asymptomatic bacteriuria is never treated
3. Repeat the culture monthly and treat only if symptoms develop
4. Prescribe cranberry supplementation and recheck at delivery

Create a free PulseMD account to answer these, see the explanations, and practice five minutes a day.

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