Diagnosis

  • Urine dipstick positive for leucocytes 90% reliable indicator.
  • Urine dipstick positive for nitrites 50% reliable indicator.
  • Urine culture/sensitivity is indicated if possibility or pregnancy or complications.

Management

  • Relieve pain: Pyridium 200mg tab #6 Sig: 1 tab PO TID for pain.
  • Clear infection: Doxycycline 50mg tab #22 Sig: for first day 2 tab PO BID CC, 1 tab PO BID CC subsequently until complete.
  • Preserve gut flora: OTC probiotic BID away from food for 2 weeks.

Prevention

Bladder and kidney infections are common among patients with underlying hypothyroidism; treat hypothyroidism to prevent recurrence of UTI [Hertoghe1914], [Starr2005, pg 142].

References