Recurring urinary tract infection: incidence and risk factors

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a common infection among young women, with a high recurrence rate. This study documents the six-month incidence of second UTI among a cohort of women with one initial UTI and the factors associated with recurrence. Among the cohort of 113 women, 30 (26.6 percent) experienced at least one culture-confirmed recurrence within the six months following initial infection. The presence of hematuria and urgency as symptoms of initial infection were the strongest predictors of second infection. Behavioral factors associated with initial infection (frequency of sexual intercourse, diaphragm use, and voiding after sexual intercourse) did not distinguish between women who would and would not experience a second UTI during the six-month follow-up period.