Hydration monitoring in the prevention of recurrent idiopathic urinary tract infections in pre‐menopausal women

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Abstract
Objective To assess whether the use of simple hydration monitoring can encourage adequate hydration and reduce urinary osmolality and the incidence of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in a population of susceptible pre‐menopausal women with recurrent idiopathic urinary infections. Subjects and methods The study included 28 premenopausal women who had at least two idiopathic UTIs in the previous 6 months. Urinary osmolality was assessed by the patients at each void by a simple hand‐held probe, and the readings over 4 months compared. Monthly urine culture was compared between successive 4‐month periods in which the probe was or was not used. Results The study was completed by 17 women. There was a significant shift towards urine of lower osmolality over the 4‐month period using the probe (Pearson's χ2 < 0.001). Significantly fewer urinary tract infections developed during the 4 months using the probe (McNemar's χ2= 0.046). Conclusions The use of the osmolality probe encouraged the subject to maintain adequate hydration. The resulting augmentation of the natural urethral washout mechanism led to lower osmolality urine and a reduction in the incidence of UTIs.

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