• Guido Schmiemann, Jennifer Kranz, Falitsa Mandraka, Sören Schubert, Florian Wagenlehner, and Ildikó Gágyor.
• Institute of Public Health and Nursing Research, Department for Health Services Research, University of Bremen; Clinic of Urology and Pediatric Urology, University Hospital Aachen; University Hospital and Department of Urology, University Hospital of Halle (Saale); Laboratory Dr. Wisplinghoff, Specialist in Internal Medicine and Infectiology, ABS-Expert (DGI), Köln; Max von Pettenkofer-Institute, Chair of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) Munich; Clinic for Urology, Pediatric Urology and Andrology, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen; Departement of General Practice, Julius-Maximilians-Universität of Würzburg.
• Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2024 May 31; 121 (11): 373382373-382.

BackgroundUrinary tract infection has a one-year prevalence of 11% in women and ranges among the most common reasons for consulting a primary care physician and for receiving a prescription for antibiotics. In the case of recurrent urinary tract infection (rUTI), there are questions about the further work-up, treatment, and preventive measures.MethodsThe systematic literature search performed for the update of the German clinical practice guideline on uncomplicated urinary tract infection (043-044) (up to February 2022) was supplemented with a selective search for clinical trials (up to August 2023).ResultsUrine culture and ultrasonography are reasonable steps in the diagnostic evaluation of rUTI. Further invasive testing is suggested for men but is not routinely indicated for women. Antibiotics are among the most effective preventive measures (risk ratio [RR] 0.15, 95% confidence interval [0.1; 0.3]) but carry a high risk of side effects. Non-antibiotic preparations such as cranberry juice (RR 0.74 [0.5; 0.99]), mannose (RR 0.23 [0.14; 0.37]), and vaginal estrogen (RR, 0.42 [0.30; 0.59]) can also reduce the infection rate, with a low risk of side effects. Increased daily fluid intake has been shown to lower infection rates in the short term (odds ratio [OR] 0.13 [0.07; 0.25]); the use of hygienically advisable wiping techniques after passing stool or urine has been little studied but can be implemented with no risk.ConclusionrUTI poses a challenge for the treating physician. The measures to be taken must be considered on an individual basis. Vulnerable groups, such as older patients, need special attention.

26 keywords...

hide…