Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of the most common reasons for antibiotic prescribing in primary care. Effective management of UTIs is essential to reduce avoidable hospitalisation, improve patient wellbeing and support antimicrobial stewardship.
Diagnostic decision tools, developed by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and adopted for use in NI, provide a simple, evidence-based approach to diagnosing UTIs in primary care. The aim is to improve diagnostic accuracy, support appropriate antibiotic prescribing, and reduce urine dipstick testing where it is not indicated.
These quick reference tools describe when to consider a UTI in:
Women aged under 65 years
Adults aged over 65 years
Adults with a urinary catheter who have a suspected catheter-associated UTI (CAUTI)For background, clinical rationale, diagnostic guidance for men under 65 years, and further information on urine sampling, please refer to UKHSA guidance.
Guidance on antibiotic choices for treatment of UTIs is available on EOLAS.
Skip the Dip is a supporting campaign to raise awareness that urine dipstick tests are not recommended in assessing for evidence of a UTI in people aged 65 years and over.
