Patient-initiated treatment of uncomplicated recurrent urinary tract infections in young women

Background: Recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a common outpatie nt problem, resulting in frequent office visits and often requiring the use of prophylactic antimicrobial agents. Patient-initiated treatment of recur rent UTIs may decrease antimicrobial use and improve patient convenience. Objective: To determine the safety and feasibility of patient-initiated tre atment of recurrent UTIs. Design: Uncontrolled, prospective clinical trial. Setting: University-based primary health care clinic. Participants: Women at least 18 years of age with a history of recurrent UT Is and no recent pregnancy, hypertension, diabetes, or renal disease. Intervention: After self-diagnosing UTI on the basis of symptoms, participa ting women initiated therapy with ofloxacin or levofloxacin. Measurements: Accuracy of self-diagnosis determined by evidence of a defini te (culture-positive) or probable (sterile pyuria and no alternative diagno sis) UTI on pretherapy urinalysis and culture. Women with a self-diagnosis of UTI that was not microbiologically confirmed were evaluated for alternat ive diagnoses. Post-therapy interviews and urine cultures were used to asse ss clinical and microbiological cure rates, adverse events, and patient sat isfaction. Results: 88 of 172 women self-diagnosed a total of 172 UTIs. Laboratory eva luation showed a uropathogen in 144 cases (84%), sterile pyuria in 19 cases (11%), and no pyuria or bacteriuria in 9 cases (5%). Clinical and microbio logical cures occurred in 92% and 96%, respectively, of culture-confirmed e pisodes. No serious adverse events occurred. Conclusion: Adherent women can accurately self-diagnose and self-treat recu rrent UTIs.