Urinary tract infections in women

The clinical conditions that cause dysuria in women can usually be differentiated by the history and selected physical and laboratory examinations. Cystitis can be treated with short-course therapy in uncomplicated cases; pretreatment cultures are usually not necessary, since most infections are caused by Escherichia coli. Outpatient treatment of pyelonephritis is appropriate in selected patients. Follow-up culture after treatment of either cystitis or pyelonephritis is indicated to identify those patients requiring longer treatment or urologic evaluation. Recurrent urinary tract infections can be managed with postcoital antibiotics, long-term prophylaxis or patient self-administration of short-course therapy. Bacteriuria and pyelonephritis in pregnancy must be aggressively diagnosed and treated.