alleryStart learning →Why does the presence of nitrite in urine point to infection?
ANitrite is filtered only when glomeruli are hurt
BNitrite is produced by leukocytes in infection
CNitrite is released by ureteral goblet cells
DNitrite is made from nitrate by gram-negative bacteria
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: D. Nitrite is made from nitrate by gram-negative bacteria
1. Nitrate occurs normally in urine and by itself means nothing.
2. Gram-negative bacteria metabolise that nitrate into nitrite.
3. So nitrite in the sample means bacteria have been at work, which is indirect evidence of infection.
4. Leukocyte esterase, not nitrite, is the marker that comes from the white cells themselves.
_Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology (CC BY 4.0), Ch 25 "The Urinary System", section 25.1 Physical Characteristics of Urine_
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