Urinary Tract Infections in Women: Pathogenesis, Diagnosis, and Management

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) in women represent one of the most common disease entities in both the ambulatory and hospital setting. Nearly 60 % of all women will experience at least one UTI in their lifetime leading to billions of dollars of healthcare spending. There are several important factors on both a pathogen and host level that support bacterial colonization with ultimate progression to infection in otherwise healthy patients. In an era of increasing healthcare costs and limited face-to-face evaluation time, establishing the correct diagnosis can prove challenging and leads to misguided and sometimes excessive treatment. Ultimately, a stronger focus on preventative strategies may help to reduce the impact of uncomplicated UTIs on women. © 2016, Springer Science+Business Media New York.