Vesicoureteral Reflux in Adults with Urinary Tract Infections: Is There a Role for Treatment?

Abstract

Urinary tract infections (UTI) place a significant burden on individual patients and the healthcare system as a whole. Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) is a risk factor for UTIs and is the focus of much research in the pediatric field due to the opportunity for early intervention and prevention of long-term sequelae. However, VUR in the adult population is not well studied and can present different treatment challenges. The goal of this review article is to discuss the role VUR plays in UTIs in the adult population with a specific focus on complications and treatment. The true prevalence of VUR in the adult population remains unknown, and urologists need to maintain an index of suspicion for VUR when evaluating adult patients with recurrent pyelonephritis or complicated UTIs. A number of case series and smaller retrospective studies have documented successful endoscopic treatment of adult VUR patients with recurrent pyelonephritis. Ureteral reimplantation remains an option for adult patients who are refractory to endoscopic treatment of VUR. The current treatments and recommendations for VUR in adults have been extrapolated from the pediatric population due to the scarcity of research. VUR is uncommon in the adult population and requires a high index of suspicion by the clinician. Accurate diagnosis and treatment of VUR can relieve patients from recurrent infections, repetitive antibiotic use, and the risk of hospitalization.