How to treat urinary tract infections in women

       Urinary tract infections are common in women, and about 10% to 20% of women have had at least one or more urinary tract infections. Many women who are susceptible, sexually active and around menopause are especially prone to recurrence of urinary tract infections, as few as 1-2 times/year or as many as 1-2 times a month. Most patients have symptoms of frequent, urgent and painful urination; a few may have symptoms of fever and back pain. For this group of patients, the aim of treatment is not only to improve symptoms, but also to prevent further infection and reduce recurrence. After a woman has had 1 or 2 urinary tract infections, she will be aware of the disease and will be able to make a self-diagnosis and manage it. The following treatment principles should be followed when receiving treatment: ①The application of antimicrobial treatment must be done under the guidance of a specialist. The antimicrobial treatment should not be stopped immediately after it is effective, but should be continued for 3-7 days. In the case of acute pyelonephritis, it should be taken continuously for 4-6 weeks, and it is better to change one effective antimicrobial agent every week. Recurrent urinary tract infections should not be treated repeatedly with the same type of antimicrobial agent, otherwise the body is prone to drug resistance and affect the efficacy. ④ For those who have poor initial treatment results, the cause should be identified as soon as possible, and midstream urine culture and bacterial sensitivity tests should be performed.  The most effective program to prevent recurrent urinary tract infections is prophylactic treatment with small doses of antimicrobials. The prerequisite for this regimen is that the urinary tract infection has been controlled by conventional therapy. Any first-line drug taken at night at 1/4 to 1/6 of its regular daily dose for 6 to 12 weeks can significantly reduce the recurrence rate of urinary tract infections and can alter the cycle of recurrent infections. Commonly used prophylactic medications include: furantoin, pioneerin IV, and cotrimoxazole. If the infection recurs even after the patient stops this low-dose prophylaxis regimen, the use of prophylactic antimicrobials can be considered for an extended period of up to 2 years. Alternatively, drug administration may be changed to every other day. For young women who are sexually active, a single post-coital dose of antimicrobial can significantly reduce the recurrence of urinary tract infections.