Complicated urinary tract infection

Urinary tract infection is the second commonest infection encountered in both the community and the hospital setting. In order to avoid complications and to minimize the unnecessary use of antibiotics, it is essential to have a useful and rapid screening test to identify urinary tract infection. The presence of nitrite and leukocyte esterase on urinalysis is such a test. Symptomatic bacteriuria requires prompt treatment and pyelonephritis should be treated for 10-14 days, whereas asymptomatic catheter and non-catheter bacteriuria should not be treated, except in the setting of pregnancy and in childhood.