Urinary tract infections (UTIs)

• Antibiotics are overused in the elderly particularly in patients with urinary catheters or suspected UTIs. Consider delaying antibiotic therapy pending culture.
• Do not treat asymptomatic bacteriuria, except in pregnancy.
• If antibiotic therapy appropriate, only prescribe after urine cultures have been taken, unless sepsis when blood cultures should be taken and antibiotic therapy not delayed.

UTI guidelines not covered by the NHSGGC Poster

UTI in pregnant women

• Asymptomatic bacteriuria
• Lower UTI without sepsis
• Upper UTI without sepsis
• Upper UTI / pyelonephritis with sepsis

UTI in men

• Epididymo-orchitis

Guideline reviewed: October 2024

Page last updated: November 2024