Recurrent urinary tract infection
in older women
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance is a global threat to public health. Every year, GPs
prescribe 35 million courses of antibiotics (Watson, 2013), the equivalent of
54.6% of the population being prescribed an antibiotic annually. One of the
most commonly treated infections in primary care is urinary tract infection (UTI).
Ageing increases the risk of UTI and recurrent urinary tract infection (RUTI) and
the need to use long-term antibiotics to prevent RUTI. This article uses a case
history approach to explore how RUTIs should be diagnosed and managed,
and concludes by discussing the pressing need for specific evidence-based
guidelines for UTI in older people, as the population ages and antimicrobial
resistance increases.
Key words: Antibiotic prescribing; Recurrent urinary tract infection; Older women;
Diagnostic error, Treatment failure; Prevention strategies