Lower urinary tract infection in non-pregnant women under 65

Urinary tract infection is common in women and women who develop a urinary tract infection (UTI) are likely to seek treatment in primary care or in NHS Walk in centres. Most women are prescribed antibiotics on the day they seek care¹. In the UK UTIs are the second most common reason for antibiotic prescribing^{2, 3}.

It is important to diagnose urinary tract infection as research indicates that misdiagnosis is common and urine culture indicates that only 24-66% of women in the UK treated with an antibiotic have a confirmed UTI^4,5.Inappropriate antibiotic prescribing increases the risk of antibiotic resistance¹. This article aims to enable readers to diagnose urinary tract infection appropriately, to consider alternative diagnoses and to manage and treat urinary tract infection in women under 65 years of age who are not pregnant.