Urinary tract infections

Urinary tract infections are common clinical problems which result in significant morbidity and even mortality. UTI's can range from minimal disease to life-threatening sepsis and it is important to differentiate between the former which usually involves the lower urinary tract and the latter which invariably involves the upper urinary tract. Diagnosis depends on an abnormal urine microscopy and demonstration of bacteria in the urine. Pre-therapy urine cultures are not mandatory in young women with uncomplicated UTI and many studies support the efficacy of short-course therapy in this groups of patients. For other patients, microbiological and radiological investigations are required and there is insufficient data to support short course therapy in these patients. Treatment guidelines are different in special situations such as prostatitis, pregnancy, catheter-related infection and recurrent infections.