Objective  To explore the value of urine culture and urine β₂-microglobulin (β₂-MG) in the diagnosis of location of simple urinary tract infection.

  Methods  A total of 143 patients with simple urinary tract infections diagnosed as simple urinary tract infection in the Department of Urology in Subei People′s Hospital, among whom 52 patients with upper urinary tract infections were as upper urinary tract group, 91 patients with lower urinary tract infections were as lower urinary tract group, and 22 patients with physical examination at the same time were as control group. Midstream urine culture and urine β₂-MG were detected before treatment.

  Results  The positive rate of urine culture in upper urinary tract group was 78.8%, the proportion of increase of β₂-MG level was 84.6%, and the main pathogens were Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and the positive rate of urine culture in lower urinary tract group was 90.1%, and the proportion of increase of β₂-MG level was 5.5%. The main pathogenic bacteria were Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis and Candida albicans. The positive rate of urine culture in the control group was 4.5% and the proportion of increase of β₂-MG level was 4.5%. There was no significant difference in urine culture results between upper and lower urinary tract groups (P>0.05), but there was significant difference in β₂-MG (P < 0.01).

  Conclusion  Urinary culture combined with β₂-MG has good diagnostic value in the localizationof simple upper and lower urinary tract infections, as well as the flora distribution and empirical medication.