Treatment of urinary tract infection. Clinical and economic considerations

The epidemiology, clinical manifestations, natural history and management of urinary tract infection (UTI) are briefly reviewed as background to the economic considerations of diagnosis and treatment. Specific pharmacoeconomic analyses, such as cost-effectiveness and cost-benefit analyses, of UTI are not available. Analysis of the direct costs of diagnosis and treatment reveal that laboratory costs comprise the largest proportion, followed by physician consultation and pharmaceutical costs, respectively. Antimicrobial treatment has focused on acquisition cost without due regard to costs associated with method of delivery (especially with parenteral therapy), drug monitoring, complications, suboptimal therapy, drug wastage and waste disposal. These factors indicate a preference for ambulatory therapy using oral antimicrobials rather than institutional care using parenteral agents. Indirect costs, such as lost work time and quality-of-life factors, are not readily available. Evidence suggests that nosocomial UTIs add significantly to hospital costs. Studies citing the cost effectiveness of infection control programmes have often lacked detail and may have accrued benefits to the service without apportioning full costs. Future research directions include analysis of laboratory economics in relation to the clinical encounter, improved analysis of the utility and total costs of newer antimicrobials, quantifying home versus hospital treatment and improved costing of infection control programmes.