II. Definitions
- Recurrent Urinary Tract Infection in young women
- One year with 3 or more symptomatic, culture positive Urinary Tract Infections
- Recurrent Urinary Tract Infection in postmenopausal women
- One year with 3 or more symptomatic, culture positive Urinary Tract Infections OR
- Six months with 2 or more Urinary Tract Infections
- UTI Relapse
- UTI with same organism and serotype presents within 2 weeks of last UTI treatment
III. Epidemiology
IV. Pathophysiology
- Causative organisms
- Escherichia coli (75% of Recurrent UTI)
- Enterococcus faecalis
- Proteus mirabilis
- Klebsiella
- Staphylococcus saprophyticus
- Inherited factors (esp. in first degree relative with >5 UTIs)
- Immune susceptibility (e.g. variation in Neutrophil receptors)
- May reduce Bacterial clearance or not preventing uroepithelial adherence
- Urogenital anatomy variation
- Shorter anal-Urethral distance
- Immune susceptibility (e.g. variation in Neutrophil receptors)
V. Types: Infection Classification
-
General
- Reinfection represents 99% of Recurrent UTI in women
- Vaginal colonization is the most common cause
- First Infection
- Unresolved Bacteriuria (Refractory Infection)
-
Bacterial persistance (Same organism recurs)
- Infected Renal Calculi
- Chronic Bacterial Prostatitis
- Unilateral infected atrophic Pyelonephritis
- Infected pericalyceal Diverticulae
- Infected nonrefluxing ureteral stumps
- Follows Nephrectomy
- Medullary sponge Kidneys
- Polycystic Kidney Disease
- Infected Urachal Cysts
- Analgesic abuse causing infected papillary necrosis
- Reinfection (Urine cleared, but new infection occurs)
- Colonization of vaginal introitus
- Vesicoenteric fistulae
- Vesicovaginal fistulae
- Vesicoureteral Reflux
- Voiding dysfunction
- Cystocele
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Neurogenic Bladder
- Immunosuppression
- Instrumentation
- Ureteral Stent
- Nephrostomy Tube
- Intermittent catheterization or indwelling Urinary Catheter
VI. Risk Factors
- Young women with Recurrent UTI (prior to Menopause)
- Intercourse in the past month >9 times: Odds Ratio 10.3
- Intercourse in the past month 4-8 times: Odds Ratio 5.8
- Age at first UTI >15 years: Odds Ratio 3.9
- Mother with Recurrent UTI: Odds Ratio 2.3
- New sex partner in the last year: Odds Ratio 1.9
- Spermicide use in the last year: Odds Ratio 1.8
- Scholes (2000) J Infect Dis 182(4): 1177-82 [PubMed]
- Postmenopausal women
- Estrogen deficiency alters Vaginal pH and decreases Lactobacillus colonization
- Incontinence
- Urinary Retention (residual Urine Volume >150 ml)
- Structural abnormalities (e.g. Cystocele)
- Type II Diabetes Mellitus
- History of Urinary Tract Infection (>5)
- Activities that increase intraabdominal pressure (e.g. long distance travel or walking)
VII. Differential Diagnosis
- See Dysuria
- Consider Vaginitis or Sexually Transmitted Infection
- Consider other noninfectious causes (e.g. Interstitial Cystitis, Bladder Cancer)
VIII. Labs
- Urinalysis
- Consider Urine Pregnancy Test
-
Urine Culture indications
- Obtain in at least one of Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections
- Breakthrough Urinary Tract Infection while on UTI prophylaxis
- UTI symptoms >48 hours despite Antibiotic treatment
- Symptomatic bacteriuria at 2 weeks after 2 weeks of culture-directed Antibiotics
- Evaluate for Antibiotic Resistance or persistent infection nidus
IX. Diagnostics
- Post-void Residual Volume and urodynamic testing indications
- Urinary Incontinence or Overactive Bladder
- Incomplete Bladder emptying
- Structural evaluation (pelvic exam, Ultrasound, CT, cystoscopy) indications
- Hematuria persists after infection clearance
- Urinary tract malignancy history
- Urogenital surgery or Trauma History
- Diverticulitis history
- Nephrolithiasis or Urolithiasis
- Especially if Urine Culture with Proteus, Klebsiella, Pseudomonas (associated with Struvite Stones)
- Multi-drug resistant organisms
- Persistent symptoms and bacteriuria despite 2 weeks of culture directed Antibiotics
- Pneumaturia or fecaluria
- Urine Culture with anaerobic organisms (except E. coli, Staphylococcus)
- Recurrent or treatment-resistant Pyelonephritis
- Voiding dysfunction
- Urinary obstructive symptoms
- Increased post-void Residual Volume
- Urinary Incontinence
X. Management: Urinary Tract Infection Treatment
- See Urinary Tract Infection for acute management
- First-line agents (less likely to induce Antibiotic Resistance)
- Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole or Septra, Bactrim (3 days)
- Nitrofurantoin or Macrobid (5 days)
- Fosfomycin or monurol (1 day)
- Other agents
- Reserve Fluoroquinolones (e.g. Ciprofloxacin, Levofloxacin) for more complicated infections
- Beta lactam agents (Penicillins, Cephalosporins) are less effective in Recurrent UTI
- Precautions
- Treat uncomplicated cystitis with three day course
- Outside pregnancy, avoid treating asymptomatic residual bacteriuria after treatment
- Treat uncomplicated cystitis in Diabetes Mellitus with same agents as those without diabetes
- Urology Consultation indications
- Hematuria without Dysuria
- Serum Creatinine increased
- Recurrent Proteus infections
- Urinary Retention and Incontinence
XI. Management: Antibiotic self-starting regimen for symptomatic UTI
- Emergency prescription available to start after onset of classic Urinary Tract Infection symptoms
- Self diagnosis based on Dysuria, Urinary Frequency, urinary hesitancy is 85% accurate
- Choose a 3 day Antibiotic course
- See Urinary Tract Infection for Antibiotic options and dosing
- Indications for medical evaluation
- Symptoms last more than 48 hours despite Antibiotics
- Fever
- Nausea or Vomiting
- Acute back pain
- Vaginal Discharge
- Pelvic Pain
- STD Exposure
- Contraindications
- Prior urogenital surgery
- Bladder Catheterization
- References
XII. Management: UTI Prophylaxis in women
- Indications
- Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections occurring 3 or more times annually
- Continuous UTI Prophylaxis (Average Course: Taken daily for 6 months, up to 12 months)
- Preferred first-line continuous prophylaxis (choose one)
- Nitrofurantoin 50-100 mg once daily
- Trimethoprim Sulfamethoxazole 40/200 daily or three times per week
- Other agents used for continuous prophylaxis (choose one)
- Trimethoprim 100 mg daily
- Cephalexin 125-250 mg daily
- Generally avoid for continuous prophylaxis (risk of increasing resistance)
- Ciprofloxacin 125 mg daily
- Norfloxacin 200 mg daily
- Preferred first-line continuous prophylaxis (choose one)
- Postcoital Prophylaxis
- Precaution: Recurrence is common after stopping prophylaxis
- One dose taken within 2 hours of intercourse
- Preferred first-line post-coital prophylaxis (choose one)
- Nitrofurantoin 100 mg once
- Trimethoprim Sulfamethoxazole 40/200 to 80/400 once
- Other agents used for post-coital prophylaxis (choose one)
- Trimethoprim 100 mg once
- Cephalexin 250 mg once
- Generally avoid for post-coital prophylaxis (risk of increasing resistance)
- Ciprofloxacin 125 mg once
- Norfloxacin 200 mg once
- Post-menopausal women
- Topical Estrogen for Atrophic Vaginitis
- Estriol Cream 0.5 mg intravaginal daily for 2 weeks initially, then twice weekly
- Perotta (2008) Cochrane Database Syst Rev (2):CD005131 +PMID:18425910 [PubMed]
- Topical Estrogen for Atrophic Vaginitis
XIII. Management: Other prophylactic agents
- Methenamine
- Dose: 1 g orally twice daily
- Preparations
- Methenamine Hippurate
- Methenamine Mandelate
- Indications
- Short term prophylaxis in patients without renal tract abnormalities
- References
- Weidner (2018) Email communication, received 9/1/2018
- Lee (2012) Cochrane Database Syst Rev (10): CD003265 +PMID: 23076896 [PubMed]
- Cranberry Juice (variable evidence)
- Mechanism
- Recommended daily dosing of cranberry juice
- Cranberry extract 300-400 mg tablet bid or
- Pure cranberry unsweetened juice 8 ounces tid
- Efficacy
- Number needed to treart (NNT) to prevent Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections
- Women NNT 16
- Children NNT 8
- Following Bladder interventions NNT 9
- Johari (2024) Am Fam Physician 110(1): 23B [PubMed]
- Some reviews have reported no high quality evidence for significant benefit
- Not effective in older women living in Nursing Homes
- Daily cranberry juice may decrease recurrent symptomatic UTIs in women over 1 year
- Older, original studies suggesting more broad efficacy in UTI prevention
- Number needed to treart (NNT) to prevent Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections
XIV. Prevention: Behavior Modification
- Measures that may offer benefit
- Women should empty Bladder before and after intercourse
- Avoid Contraceptive Diaphragm
- Avoid spermacide
- Increased hydration (1.5 extra Liters/day)
- Measures NOT found to reduce UTI risk
- Women wiping perineum front to back after stooling
- Cotton underwear
- Reduced exposure to hot tubs
- Reduced use of tampons
- Avoid douching (did not decrease UTI risk, but should be avoided due to other risks)
- Glover (2014) Urol Sci 25(1): 1-8 [PubMed]