Urine Culture After Treatment of Uncomplicated Cystitis in Women

Abstract
The follow-up urine culture for urinary tract [bacterial] infection (UTI) is widely recommended, but it is done relatively infrequently in everyday practice. The effectiveness of this procedure was studied in 141 women with a culture-proven symptomatic lower UTI. Of these, 56.7% (80) had a follow-up culture and 43.3% (61) did not. The 2 groups were comparable in important parameters of risk for urinary tract infection and its complications. The relative risk of a subsequent symptomatic UTI was 0.5 for women who did not obtain a follow-up urine culture (95% confidence interval = 0.2-1.5). The follow-up urine culture in asymptomatic, healthy women may be unjustified.

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