Symptom-based diagnosis of urinary tract infection in women: are we over-prescribing antibiotics?

Abstract

Symptoms alone have low accuracy when assessed against the reference standard for diagnosing UTI. Empiric treatment of UTI based on symptoms may expose large number of patients to unnecessary antibiotics. Wet mount microscopy for presence of pyuria as a 'near patient test' before starting antibiotics seems a rational approach for management of UTI in symptomatic women.