Abstract

A REVIEW ON MANAGEMENT OF URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS

Sreekanya A.* and Santhosh M. Mathews

ABSTRACT

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are symptomatic infections of the urinary tract, mainly caused by the bacterium Escherichia coli. One in two women suffers from a UTI at least once in her life The treatment of choice — short-term therapy with trimethoprim or nitrofurantoin — is successful in over 80% of the cases. Co-trimoxazol, fluoroquinolones or cephalosporins are not considered first-choice drugs. There are indications that general practitioners’ (GPs’) management of UTI is not always optimal, specifically concerning diagnostic tests, the application of second-choice antibiotics, and the length of prescribed treatment courses. Many points relevant to GPs require further research, such as epidemiology and resistance of urinary pathogens in the community and natural history of UTI, as well as optimal management in elderly or complicated patients and men.

Keywords: UTI, management, general therapy, antimicrobial therapy, adjuvant measures.