Final answer:
An increased presence of bacteria and white blood cells in a urine specimen is consistent with a urinary tract infection (UTI), a condition often caused by bacteria like Escherichia coli that have entered the urinary tract.
Step-by-step explanation:
The presence of bacteria and white blood cells (WBCs) in a clean-catch urine specimen typically indicates a urinary tract infection (UTI). WBCs, detected through leukocyte esterase tests, are part of the body's immune response to fight infection. UTIs are commonly caused by bacteria such as Escherichia coli and can occur when bacteria from the lower gastrointestinal tract are introduced into the urinary tract. Symptoms may include high fever, abdominal pain, and cloudy or bloody urine.
Conditions such as diabetic ketoacidosis, renal tubular degradation, and renal cell carcinoma are less likely to present with WBCs and bacteria in urine, as they do not represent bacterial infections of the urinary tract. Kidney stones can cause hematuria (blood in the urine) and may sometimes lead to infection, but the defining features are the presence of stones and related obstructions.