Patients with uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) do not have any structural abnormalities in their urinary tract or comorbidities such as diabetes, an immunocompromised state, recent urologic surgery, or pregnancy. An uncomplicated UTI is also referred to as cystitis or a lower tract UTI. It is estimated that approximately half of all women will experience at least one UTI in their lifetime.

The presence of bacteriuria or pyuria alone, without symptoms, does not meet the criteria for a UTI. Common symptoms of a UTI include urinary frequency, urgency, suprapubic discomfort, and dysuria. While UTIs are very common in women, many uncomplicated cases will resolve on their own without treatment. However, patients often seek therapy for symptom relief. The goal of therapy is to prevent the infection from spreading to the kidneys or developing into a more serious upper tract disorder such as pyelonephritis, which can cause damage to structures in the nephrons and potentially lead to hypertension.

This article will delve into the most recent guidelines on UTIs provided by various medical societies. With the release of the “Recurrent Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infections in Women” Guideline, a new medication has been approved for the treatment of uncomplicated UTIs. The focus of this article will be on these guidelines and the recent update from the FDA.

Part 1 – Current UTI Guidelines

To start, here is a listing of the current UTI guidelines in the US:

Part 2 – FDA Approvals Since the Most Recent Guidelines

The medications/therapies that have been approved by the FDA since the last UTI clinical guideline published in October 2022:

  • Pivya (pivmecillinam)
    • UTILITY therapeutics Ltd.
    • FDA approved on April 24, 2024
    • Pivya is for the treatment of female adults with uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by susceptible isolates of Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis and Staphylococcus saprophyticus.

Thank you for taking the time to review the current UTI in women guidelines, as well as the recent major changes and FDA approvals that have occurred since publication. We value your feedback and would like to hear your suggestions for future topics to be covered in our guideline series. Please feel free to contact us with any ideas or questions you may have. We look forward to hearing from you.

Copyright © 2024 Guideline Central, All rights reserved.