To provide a comprehensive review of the diagnosis and therapeutic management considerations in patients with urinary tract infections (UTIs).
DATA SOURCES:
A MEDLINE search was used to identify pertinent English language literature, including reviews. Infectious disease textbooks were used for background information.
STUDY SELECTION:
Clinical trials evaluating drug therapy in a variety of patient populations with UTIs were reviewed.
DATA EXTRACTION:
Background information was obtained from comprehensive reviews. Drug dosing strategies and efficacy comparisons were extracted from the investigations in this area.
DATA SYNTHESIS:
Information was processed to provide general guidelines and resources for practitioners to use in managing UTIs.
CONCLUSIONS:
There are a number of useful antibiotics for the management of UTIs. The distinctions between infection severity and underlying risk factors within a given population influence the appropriateness of drug selection and duration of treatment.
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