Urinary Tract Infection: Uncomplicated Infections in Women

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the most common outpatient infections, accounting for over 10 million office visits and 2-3 million emergency room visits each year. Women are more likely to experience a UTI than men and have a lifetime incidence as high as 60%. The likelihood of a UTI increases as women age; those over 65 years old have twice the incidence as younger females. In addition, 30 to 40% of women who experience a UTI have a recurrence, frequently within the next 3 months. The cost of evaluation and treatment of UTIs in the US is estimated at 2 billion dollars per year.

Urinary tract infections include infection of the bladder and/or lower urinary tract (also called cystitis) and infection of the kidney and/or upper urinary tract (pyelonephritis). Most UTIs are acute simple cystitis. Recurrent UTIs (rUTIs) are common and affect women of all ages, ethnicities, education levels, and socioeconomic status. These infections reduce a woman’s quality of life and the mental stress of rUTIs sometimes leads to depression.