Lower urinary tract infections in women

Abstract

In her lifetime, a woman is highly likely to develop at least one lower urinary tract infection. Early detection and treatment are key. Being aware of predisposing factors for infection and understanding appropriate diagnosis and treatment regimens will help nurses in both primary and acute care manage these patients correctly. This will not only benefit patients but will also help prevent incorrect antimicrobial management and avoid unplanned admissions. This aim of this article is to provide nurses with the information they need to best advise both colleagues and patients on how to manage lower urinary tract infections in women.

Keywords: Antibiotic resistance; Diagnostic testing; Prevention; Recurrent infection; Risk factors; UTIs.