Patient-initiated treatment of recurrent UTI

Patient-initiated treatment of recurrent UTI involves the patient taking antibiotics at the onset of cystitis symptoms. It reduces overall antibiotic use compared to antibiotic prophylaxis.

Patient-initiated treatment of recurrent UTI (ie 2 or more infections within 6 months, or 3 or more infections within 12 months) may be appropriate if all of the following criteria are met:

  • nonpregnant adult female1
  • at least one UTI episode was confirmed by midstream urine sample microscopy, culture and susceptibility testing
  • patient can easily recognise the symptoms.

For antibiotic regimens, see Empirical antibiotic therapy for acute cystitis in nonpregnant adult females.

Advise patients to seek medical review if symptoms do not resolve within 48 hours of treatment being completed.

1 In this topic, the term ‘female’ is used to include all people presumed female at birth.Return