Recurrent urinary tract infections in non-pregnant adult women

Abstract

Recurrent urinary tract infections occur in approximately 5% of adult women. It has a significant impact on the affected women's quality of life and on health care costs. It is important to be aware of the physiologically protective factors preventing urinary tract infections. The clinician should also be able to identify relevant risk factors for recurrent infection. Clinical evaluation is relatively straightforward in cases without underlying complicating factors, but urine culture ought to be readily utilised. Treatment should be according to local antibiogram patterns and prophylactic and postcoital preventative strategies can be used according to current evidence. Certain subpopulations such as HIV positive patients require a different approach compared to the general population.