Recurrent urinary tract infections: from pathogenesis to prevention

Med Clin (Barc). 2020 Aug 28;155(4):171-177. doi: 10.1016/j.medcli.2020.04.026. Epub 2020 Jun 17.
[Article in English, Spanish]

Abstract

Urinary tract infections are highly prevalent among women and when they are recurrent they can lead to patient discomfort and high healthcare costs, and they represent one of the most frequent causes of antibiotic consumption. There are several options to prevent RUTI which include both antibiotic treatment (continuous or postcoital antibiotic prophylaxis) and non-antibiotic measures (hygienic measures, vitamin D, blueberries, D-mannose, probiotics, oestrogens, vaccines, intravesical instillations), but with different levels of evidence, sometimes of poor quality, and therefore new randomized and comparative studies are needed to choose the best strategy.

Keywords: Infección urinaria; Prevención; Prevention; Profilaxis; Prophylaxis; Recurrence; Recurrencia; Urinary tract infection.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Antibiotic Prophylaxis
  • Estrogens / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Probiotics* / therapeutic use
  • Recurrence
  • Secondary Prevention
  • Urinary Tract Infections* / drug therapy
  • Urinary Tract Infections* / etiology
  • Urinary Tract Infections* / prevention & control

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Estrogens