Evaluation and Management of Urinary Tract Infection in the Emergency Department

Sarah B Dubbs; Sarah K Sommerkamp

doi:10.1016/j.emc.2019.07.007

Evaluation and Management of Urinary Tract Infection in the Emergency Department

Emerg Med Clin North Am. 2019 Nov;37(4):707-723. doi: 10.1016/j.emc.2019.07.007. Epub 2019 Aug 19.

Authors

Sarah B Dubbs¹, Sarah K Sommerkamp²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 110 South Paca Street, 6th Floor, Suite 200, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA. Electronic address: sdubbs@som.umaryland.edu.
² Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 110 South Paca Street, 6th Floor, Suite 200, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.

PMID: 31563203
DOI: 10.1016/j.emc.2019.07.007

Abstract

Urinary tract infection (UTI) affects patients of all ages and is a diagnosis that emergency physicians might make multiple times per shift. This article reviews the evaluation and management of patients with infections of the urinary tract. Definitions of asymptomatic bacteriuria, uncomplicated UTI, and complicated UTI are presented, as well as techniques for distinguishing them. The pathophysiology and clinical and laboratory diagnoses of UTI are described. Treatment of UTI is reviewed, with attention to bacteriuria and special populations, including pregnant, elderly/geriatric, and spinal cord injury patients.

Keywords: Asymptomatic bacteriuria; Catheter-associated urinary tract infection; Cystitis; Pyelonephritis; Renal abscess; Urinary tract infection.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
Bacteriuria / diagnosis
Bacteriuria / therapy
Cystitis / diagnosis
Cystitis / therapy
Emergency Service, Hospital*
Humans
Pyelonephritis / diagnosis
Pyelonephritis / therapy
Urinary Tract Infections / diagnosis*
Urinary Tract Infections / therapy

Substances

Anti-Bacterial Agents