Uncomplicated cystitis: diagnosis and treatment at college health centers

The results of recent studies have led to valuable new recommendations regarding optimal diagnosis and treatment of acute uncomplicated cystitis in women. To investigate to what degree these recommendations have been incorporated into clinical practice, we conducted a survey of all college health centers belonging to the American College Health Association regarding their current management of suspected uncomplicated cystitis. Sixty-one percent responded. The results confirm that acute cystitis is indeed frequent among college women. Nonetheless, our data show that there is a wide variation in the approach to this common problem and that many centers have not yet adopted the new recommendations for optimal diagnosis and treatment. If we are to improve the management of uncomplicated cystitis in women, we must not only learn the best medical approaches, but we must also find reliable ways of transmitting this information to clinicians.