Abstract
Lower urinary tract infections are among the most common infectious diseases in adult women. Acute infection is usually not a diagnostic and therapeutic problem.
Recurrent lower urinary tract infections can contribute significantly to a decrease in quality of life. At minimum, 60 % of women contract at least one urinary tract infection during their lifetime. 25-30 % of the women who undergo a primary infection go on to suffer from recurrent urinary tract infection.
Bacterial colonisation of the vagina, vulva and the perineum is the main risk factor of urinary infection. E. coli is most common cause of urinary tract infections generating 75-90 % of acute and more than 60 % of recurrent infections.
The diagnostic process is very simple and it is based on characteristic symptoms, especially dysuria, urgency, strangury, haematuria a higher frequency of micturition. Urinary chemotherapy and bactericidal antibiotics are used in the treatment of urinary tract infections.
Continuous low dose antimicrobial treatment is the most common means of prophylaxis. Immunomodulating therapy and cranberry extracts are also used.
Local vaginal oestrogen therapy is recommended in postmenopausal women to improve urogenital atrophy, decrease the vaginal pH and to prevent pathological bacterial colonisation of vagina and vulva.