Uncomplicated urinary tract infections in pregnant and non-pregnant women

Abstract

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are still one of the most common bacterial infections in pregnant and non-pregnant women. It is estimated that about 10-20% of all women suffer from a UTI at some point in life. The presence of UTI is defined as the existence of urinary symptoms such as frequency of urination and dysuria with or without bacteriuria or pyuria. The prevalence of bacteriuria in females varies from less than 1% in infants to 10% and more in older women. There are major differences in the clinical features between young and elderly women depending on the different pathogenesis, microbiology and general condition. Especially for elderly women, symptomatic and asymptomatic bacteriuria presents a risk factor for bacteraemia, sepsis and also increased mortality. During pregnancy, the prevalence of bacteriuria does not change but there are some changes in the pathogenesis that increase the rate of pyelonephritis. Asymptomatic bacteriuria rarely resolves spontaneously during this time. For non-pregnant women, short therapy strategies are recommended, preferably 3 days of trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole (TMP/SMX) or quinolones. In pregnant women, therapy with amoxycillin or an oral cephalosporin is considered optimal.