Recurrent urinary tract infection in adult women: diagnosis and treatment.

Recurrent urinary infection may be either relapse or reinfection. The majority of women experiencing recurrent infection have normal genitourinary tracts. For recurrent cystitis, single-dose therapy is optimal and symptomatic episodes are effectively prevented with continuous low-dose antimicrobial prophylaxis. For upper tract infection, or relapse after single dose therapy, two-week therapy is generally adequate. Investigation for abnormalities of the genitourinary tract should be reserved for women who fail to respond to therapy or with relapsing or bacteremic infection.