How general practitioners manage children with urinary tract infection: an audit in the former Northern Region.

Abstract

There is a wide variation in clinical practice by GPs. Some always appropriately collect and test urine samples, treat without delay and refer for imaging after one proven UTI. Some never collect urines, treat blindly and refer only young infants with recurrent UTIs. Many vary their standards of practice from weekdays to weekends. The provision for GPs of clear, local, practical guidelines, drawn up between paediatricians and GPs and backed up with study days, might produce a consistent improvement in standards.