[Uncomplicated urinary tract infections: antibiotic-sparing approaches]

With increasing antimicrobial resistance, the attractiveness of antibiotic-sparing approaches in urinary tract infections increases.

Current evidence on alternative treatment options to antibiotics in urinary tract infections.

A narrative review of current guidelines and selected literature was performed.

Rates of symptom relief or symptom resolution are comparable between nonantibiotic and antibiotic therapies. A small risk increase of pyelonephritis remains but does not influence the overall recommendation of an antibiotic-sparing therapy. Outside of the well-defined group of young and healthy women, there is a marked lack of evidence; hence, antibiotics remain standard treatment.

In nongeriatric healthy women, antibiotic-sparing treatment of urinary tract infections is a viable and increasingly proven alternative. Outside this collective, evidence remains insufficient.