Hi Wendy,
Dr Erbringer was suggesting a sub-clincial UTI.
So probably that would mean a lowish white cell count and low numbers of Pm in a urine sample. In Urine culture we are only looking for overwhelming growth of a bacterial species and it is common to get low numbers of skin flora - which are ignored with a comment such as "No significant growth"
Microbiology (at the level of the lab bench)is as much art as science!
It's a 'profession' I suppose like many that are undervalued in terms of respect and remuneration. All the glory and remuneration goes to the doctor - who in many cases only has to do the bleeding obvious to make a diagnosis.
But I'm not bitter, who needs the stress!
Cheers David
PS Minocycline was probably never acting as an antibiotic in RA - more a DMARD through its inhibition of MM3.
