Uncomplicated cystitis in non-pregnant women is treated with short courses. Urinary infection in men is different: it is treated for seven days, and a urine culture is sent before antibiotics, because prostatic involvement is common and short courses relapse more often.
Fever, perineal or rectal pain, or difficulty voiding suggest prostatitis, which needs a longer course and closer follow-up.
- Send a urine culture before starting antibiotics in men.
- Treat lower UTI in men for seven days.
- Ask about fever, perineal pain and voiding difficulty to screen for prostatitis.
- Follow local resistance data when choosing the agent.
Why it matters
Men are one of the 'patient X' groups GPs find hardest, and the short course used for women does not transfer.
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