THE ASSOCIATION OF URINARY-TRACT INFECTION WITH A RECENT PELVIC EXAMINATION IN WOMEN

We tried to determine whether women with a urinary tract infection (UT I) were more likely to have had a recent pelvic examination than were women seen for other reasons. We compared 56 women who were diagnosed as having a UTI with 49 controls who had an unrelated complaint (sinus itis). Significantly more women with UTIs had received a pelvic examin ation within the preceding 2 months (43% vs 16%, P=.01). We conclude t hat having a pelvic examination is associated with an increased risk o f a UTI developing within the following 2 months. This may be due to p hysical factors related to the examination or to risk factors related to the patients' reasons for obtaining a pelvic examination. Further s tudy is needed to determine if the pelvic examination is an independen t risk factor. If so, established preventive measures could reduce thi s risk.