Another UTI?!: Management of Recurrent UTIs in Non-pregnant Women-Another UTI?!: Management of Recurrent UTIs in Non-pregnant Women

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Video Summary

Dr. Cassandra Carberry, an assistant professor and clinical educator in the Department of OB-GYN at Brown University, was the guest speaker in a webinar about the management of recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) in non-pregnant women. Recurrent UTIs are defined as two culture-proven infections in six months or three in a year. Dr. Carberry discussed the challenges of diagnosing UTIs in these patients, especially when symptoms may be vague or when patients are cognitively impaired and unable to report symptoms. She explained that the most common pathogens in recurrent UTIs are from neighboring organs like the vagina and rectum, and that uropathogenic E. coli is the most common pathogen, with non-E. coli pathogens being more common in recurrent UTIs compared to episodic UTIs. <br /><br />Dr. Carberry emphasized the importance of a thorough history and physical examination to rule out other conditions that may present with similar symptoms, as well as to identify any modifiable risk factors. She also discussed the various diagnostic and imaging tests that can be helpful in identifying underlying causes and complications. Treatment options include antimicrobials and non-antibiotic approaches such as ibuprofen, Chinese herbal medicine, and intravesical treatments. <br /><br />Dr. Carberry highlighted the use of vaginal estrogen as a preventive measure, as well as the potential benefits of methenamine and D-mannose. She also mentioned the possibility of vaccines for UTIs in the future. Dr. Carberry concluded by recommending a personalized approach to managing recurrent UTIs, considering the individual patient's history, symptoms, risk factors, and response to treatment.

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Presented by: Cassandra L. Carberry, MD, MS

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Date: April 10, 2019

Meta Tag

Category Education

Category Pelvic Pain

Keywords

recurrent urinary tract infections

non-pregnant women

diagnosing UTIs

common pathogens

history and physical examination

treatment options

vaginal estrogen

methenamine

personalized approach