The management and treatment of cystitis: same challenges, new strategies

Abstract

Cystitis is an inflammation of the bladder that is most often caused by bacterial infection and is the most common urinary tract infection. This lower urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most frequently encountered infections in women in outpatient practice. The concept of the urobiome, the microbiome of the urinary tract, has recently emerged and has improved our comprehension of the physiopathology of UTI. Recent studies have highlighted the potential limits of additional examinations used in our clinical practice. The emergence of delayed therapy is a novelty in the treatment of lower UTI; it likely allows for an overall reduction in antibiotic consumption while remaining an effective treatment. Alternatives to antibiotic treatment exist but most have yet to be tested in sufficiently powered randomized trials.