Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2022 Jan 9;11(1):75.
doi: 10.3390/antibiotics11010075.

Guideline Adherence of Asymptomatic Bacteriuria Could Be Improved among General Practitioners in The Netherlands: A Survey Study

Tessa M Z X K van Horrik  1 , Bart J Laan  1 , Tamara N Platteel  2 , Suzanne E Geerlings  1
Affiliations

Guideline Adherence of Asymptomatic Bacteriuria Could Be Improved among General Practitioners in The Netherlands: A Survey Study

Tessa M Z X K van Horrik et al. Antibiotics (Basel). .

Abstract

Asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) is a common finding in certain populations. This study assessed general practitioners' (GPs') knowledge about ASB and their current clinical practice regarding urine testing.

Methods: An online survey was used for GPs in the Netherlands from October to December 2020.

Results: In total, 99 surveys were included in the analyses. All GPs strongly agreed with the statements about their knowledge and self-confidence regarding urine diagnostics and treatment of ASB. The median knowledge score was 4 out of 6 (IQR 2 to 6). Most GPs (64 of 92; 70%) followed the guideline for the choice of urine diagnostics and reported appropriate indications for urine testing. However, 71/94 (75.5%) GPs would treat patients for ASB if they have diabetes mellitus. Further, 34 (37%) of 92 participants would inappropriately repeat a urine test after a patient was treated for a urinary tract infection (UTI). One-third of the GPs responded that ASB was insufficiently addressed within the guidelines for UTI.

Conclusion: These results indicate that knowledge about ASB could be improved in primary care in the Netherlands, mainly in diabetic patients that have ASB, as well as for follow-up tests after treatment for UTI.

Keywords: antimicrobial stewardship; asymptomatic bacteriuria; diagnostic stewardship; general practice; urinary tract infection.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare they have no conflict of interest.

References

    1. Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research (NIVEL) NIVEL Zorgregistraties Eerste Lijn: Jaarcijfers 2018 En Trendcijfers 2014–2018. [(accessed on 18 October 2020)]. Available online: https://www.nivel.nl/sites/default/files/Jaarrapport%20Huisarts_2018.pdf.
    1. Nielen M.M.J., Hek K., Dijk L., van Korevaar J.C., Weesie Y.M. Cijfers Huisartsen—Gezondheidsproblemen. [(accessed on 21 January 2021)]. Available online: www.nivel.nl/nl/nivel-zorgregistraties-eerste-lijn/gezondheidsproblemen.
    1. Bouma M., van den Donk M., Platteel T. Herziene NHG-Standaard Urineweginfecties. Huisarts En Wet. 2020;63:60. doi: 10.1007/s12445-020-0584-y. - DOI
    1. De Grauw W., De leest K., Schenk P., Scherpbier-de Haan N., Tjin-A-Tjon J., Tuut M., van Balen J. NHG-Standaard Chronische Nierschade. [(accessed on 12 July 2021)]. Available online: https://richtlijnen.nhg.org/standaarden/chronische-nierschade.
    1. Nederlands Huisartsen Genootschap NHG-Standaard Cardiovasculair Risicomanagement. [(accessed on 12 July 2021)]. Available online: https://richtlijnen.nhg.org/standaarden/cardiovasculair-risicomanagement.

LinkOut - more resources