[Urinary tract infections : new 2026 guidelines]

Urinary tract infections are a major source of antibiotic prescriptions. The 2025 guidelines from the European Association of Urology and the Infectious Diseases Society of America introduce a new classification based on clinical presentation and the presence of systemic signs, rather than on patient groups considered at increased risk. This shift aims to better target diagnostic investigations, reduce overtreatment of localized infections, and enable early identification of potentially severe cases. In the context of rising antimicrobial resistance, antibiotic-sparing strategies remain central, including initial symptomatic treatment in selected cases of cystitis in women, therapeutic de-escalation, and limiting treatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria.