Lower urinary tract infection in women: diagnosis, management and prevention

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a common condition in women, causing symptoms that can have a detrimental effect on their everyday life and, for some, can result in hospitalisation, sepsis and death. The treatment of UTIs accounts for a significant proportion of antibiotic prescribing, which contributes to the growing issue of antimicrobial resistance. To try to address both of these issues, strategies for UTI prevention, accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment have become national priorities in the UK. This article discusses current evidence-based guidelines on the diagnosis, management and prevention of lower UTI in women with the aim of enhancing nurses' awareness of these guidelines and to inform their practice. Nurses should be mindful that this issue may also affect trans men and non-binary people.