Classification of urinary tract infections by biotype identification of the pathogens.

Bacterial isolates from urinary tract infections were identified by biotyping. During a 2-year period all episodes of urinary tract infection in 276 patients from an office practice could be classified into 4 categories: 1) first or simple urinary tract infection, 2) recurrent urinary tract infection owing to unresolved bacteriuria during treatment, 3) recurrent urinary tract infection owing to bacterial persistence and 4) recurrent urinary tract infection owing to reinfection.