About 20% of women treated for uncomplicated UTIs experience a recurrence.
Recurrence in men is usually due to persistence of the same organism; further evaluation and treatment are indicated.
Reinfection of women with new bacteria is more common than persistence of the initial bacteria.
If diagnostic evaluation reveals no structural abnormalities, patient may be instructed to begin treatment on own, testing urine with a dipstick whenever symptoms occur, and to contact health care provider only with persistence of symptoms, at the occurrence of fever, or if the number of treatment episodes exceeds four in a 6month period.
Long term use of antimicrobial agents decreases risk of reinfection.