New guidance will help combat drug resistant urinary tract infections, says NICE

NICE has published new guidance to help healthcare professionals optimise the treatment of urinary tract infections (UTIs). NICE says healthcare professionals should ask patients about the severity and regularity of their symptoms before they prescribe antibiotics. This should include asking them about the steps they have taken to manage their illness (such as taking painkillers) and may also include asking them for a urine sample so that this can be tested for infection. The results can then be used to identify which antibiotic will work best. Dr Tessa Lewis, GP and chair of the managing common infections guidance committee, said: