Cystitis and Pyelonephritis: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention.

Urinary tract infections, including cystitis and pyelonephritis, are the most common bacterial infection primary care clinicians encounter in office practice. Dysuria and frequency in the absence of vaginal discharge and vaginal irritation are highly predictive of cystitis. Urine culture is recommended for the diagnosis and management of pyelonephritis, recurrent urinary tract infection, and complicated urinary tract infections. Antibiotics targeted toward Escherichia coli, Proteus, Klebsiella, and Staphylococcus saprophyticus are the recommended treatment. The duration of treatment varies by specific drug and type of infection, ranging from 3 to 5 days for uncomplicated cystitis to 7 to 14 days for pyelonephritis.