Clinical evaluation of guidelines and therapeutic approaches in multi drug-resistant urinary tract infections

Abstract

Antibiotic resistance represents a real health emergency worldwide, mostly due to the lack of new antibiotics active against multidrug-resistant Enterobacteriaceae. Considering the global epidemiological situation in several infections, including urinary tract infections (UTIs), some antibiotics, such as fluoroquinolones and trimethoprim/sulphamethoxazole, can no longer be used for empiric treatment due to high resistance rates. However, some old antibiotics maintain high microbiological activity against UTI pathogens: according to many recent guidelines, fosfomycin trometamol, nitrofurantoin and pivmecillinam are recommended for the first-line treatment of uncomplicated UTIs. This article provides an overview of the therapeutic management of UTIs, especially uncomplicated and recurrent cystitis, as well as complicated UTIs such as catheter-related UTIs, and UTIs in males, post-menopausal women and diabetic patients, based on the main international guidelines.

Keywords: fosfomycin trometamol; nitrofurantoin; pivmecillinam; quinolones; trimethoprim/sulphamethoxazole; urinary tract infections.