scholarly journals Workload, diagnostic work-up and treatment of urinary tract infections in adults during out-of-hours primary care: a retrospective cohort study

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle Spek ◽  
Jochen W. L. Cals ◽  
Guy J. Oudhuis ◽  
Paul H. M. Savelkoul ◽  
Eefje G. P. M. de Bont

Abstract Background Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of the most common infections in primary care. Previous research showed that GPs find it challenging to diagnose UTIs and frequently divert from guidelines leading to unwarranted antibiotic prescriptions and inefficient use of diagnostics such as urinary cultures. We hypothesise that management of UTIs during out-of-hours care may be extra challenging due to a higher workload and logistical issues regarding diagnostic work-up and obtaining results. We therefore aimed to study the workload, diagnostic work-up and treatment of UTIs during out-of-hours primary care. Methods We performed a retrospective observational cohort study in which we analysed a full year (2018) of electronic patient records of two large Dutch GP out-of-hours centres. All adult patients with UTI symptoms were included in this study. Descriptive statistics and multivariate regression were used to analyse diagnostics and subsequent management. Results A total of 5657 patients were included (78.9% female, mean age of 54 years), with an average of eight patients per day that contact a GP out-of-hours centre because of UTI symptoms. Urinary dipsticks were used in 87.5% of all patients visiting the out-of-hours centres with UTI symptoms. Strikingly, urinary cultures were only requested in 10.3% of patients in which urinary culture was indicated. Seventy-four percent of the patients received antibiotics. Seventy-nine percent of the patients with a negative nitrite test still received antibiotics. Remarkably, patients at risk of complications because of a UTI, such as men, received fewer antibiotic prescriptions. Conclusions In total, 74% of the patients received antibiotics. 8 out of 10 patients still received an antibiotic prescription in case of a negative nitrite test, and 9 out of 10 patients with an indication did not receive a urine culture. In conclusion, we found that correctly diagnosing UTIs and prescribing antibiotics for UTIs is a challenge that needs major improvement, especially during out-of-hours GP care.

2008 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bart J Knottnerus ◽  
Patrick JE Bindels ◽  
Suzanne E Geerlings ◽  
Eric P Moll van Charante ◽  
Gerben ter Riet

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 135
Author(s):  
Ioana D. Olaru ◽  
Mutsawashe Chisenga ◽  
Shunmay Yeung ◽  
Prosper Chonzi ◽  
Kudzai P.E. Masunda ◽  
...  

Background: Treatment for urinary tract infections (UTIs) is usually empiric and is based on local antimicrobial resistance data. These data, however, are scarce in low-resource settings. The aim of this study is to determine the impact of antibiotic treatment on clinical and bacteriological outcomes in patients presenting with UTI symptoms to primary care in Harare. Methods: This cohort study enrolled participants presenting with UTI symptoms to 10 primary healthcare clinics in Harare between July 2019 and July 2020. A questionnaire was administered and a urine sample was collected for culture. If the urine culture showed growth of ≥105 colony forming units/mL of a uropathogen, a follow up visit at 7-21 days was conducted. Results: The analysis included 168 participants with a median age of 33.6 years (IQR 25.1-51.4) and of whom 131/168 (78.0%) were female. Effective treatment was taken by 54/168 (32.1%) participants. The urine culture was negative at follow up in 41/54 (75.9%) of participants who took appropriate treatment and in 33/114 (28.9%, p<0.001) of those who did not. Symptoms had improved or resolved in 52/54 (96.3%) of those on appropriate treatment and in 71/114 (62.3%, p<0.001) of those without. Conclusion: The findings of this study show that effective treatment leads to symptom resolution and bacterial clearance in people presenting with UTIs to primary care. Although UTIs are not life-threatening and can resolve without treatment, they do impact on quality of life, highlighting the need for optimised treatment recommendations.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1977 ◽  
Vol 59 (4) ◽  
pp. 639-639
Author(s):  
Rebecca T. Kirkland ◽  
Bruce S. Keenan ◽  
George W. Clayton

We previously reported a 7.5% incidence of congenital anomalies in 105 cases of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH).1 Subsequently, we have examined the intravenous pyelograms (IVPs) of 23 patients for the presence of anomalies of the upper urinary tract. These pyelograms were performed for the following reasons: evaluation of recurrent urinary tract infections in eight patients, recurrent hematuria in one, evaluation of hypertension in one, evaluation of possible nephrosis in one, and initial diagnostic work-up in 12 patients.


Author(s):  
Thijs ten Doesschate ◽  
Kelly Hendriks ◽  
Cornelis.H. van Werkhoven ◽  
Evelien C. van der Hout ◽  
Tamara N. Platteel ◽  
...  

BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. e026846 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angel M R Schols ◽  
Eline Meijs ◽  
Geert-Jan Dinant ◽  
Henri E J H Stoffers ◽  
Mariëlle M E Krekels ◽  
...  

ObjectivesTo investigate how many general practitioner (GP)-referred venous thromboembolic events (VTEs) are diagnosed during 1 year in one geographical region and to investigate the (urgent) referral pathway of VTE diagnoses, including the role of laboratory D-dimer testing.DesignHistorical cohort study.SettingGP patients of 47 general practices in a demarcated geographical region of 161 503 inhabitants in the Netherlands.ParticipantsWe analysed all 895 primary care patients in whom either the GP determined a D-dimer value or who had a diagnostic work-up for suspected VTE in a non-academic hospital during 2015.Primary and secondary outcome measuresThe primary outcomes of this study were the total number of VTEs per year and the diagnostic pathways—including the role of GP determined D-dimer testing—of patients urgently referred to secondary care for suspected VTE. Additionally, we explored the use of an age-adjusted D-dimer cut-off.ResultsThe annual VTE incidence was 0.9 per 1000 inhabitants. GPs annually ordered 5.1 D-dimer tests per 1000 inhabitants. Of 470 urgently GP-referred patients, 31.3% had a VTE. Of those urgently referred based on clinical assessment only (without D-dimer testing), 73.8% (96/130) had a VTE; based on clinical assessment and laboratory D-dimer testing yielded 15.0% (51/340) VTE. Applying age-adjusted D-dimer cut-offs to all patients aged 50 years or older resulted in a reduction of positive D-dimer results from 97.9% to 79.4%, without missing any VTE.ConclusionsAlthough D-dimer testing contributes to the diagnostic work-up of VTE, GPs have a high detection rate for VTE in patients who they urgently refer to secondary care based on clinical assessment only.


2005 ◽  
Vol 94 (07) ◽  
pp. 200-205 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karel G. M. Moons ◽  
Arno W. Hoes ◽  
Ruud Oudega

SummaryIn primary care, the physician has to decide which patients have to be referred for further diagnostic work-up. At present, only in 20% to 30% of the referred patients the diagnosis DVT is confirmed. This puts a burden on both patients and health care budgets. The question arises whether the diagnostic work-up and referral of patients suspected of DVT in primary care could be more efficient. A simple diagnostic decision rule developed in primary care is required to safely exclude the presence of DVT in patients suspected of DVT, without the need for referral. In a cross-sectional study, we investigated the data of 1295 consecutive patients consulting their primary care physician with symptoms suggestive of DVT, to develop and validate a simple diagnostic decision rule to safely exclude the presence of DVT. Independent diagnostic indicators of the presence of DVT were male gender, oral contraceptive use, presence of malignancy, recent surgery, absence of leg trauma, vein distension, calf difference and D-dimer test result. Application of this rule could reduce the number of referrals by at least 23% while only 0·7% of the patients with a DVT would not be referred. We conclude that by using eight simple diagnostic indicators from patient history, physical examination and the result of D-dimer testing, it is possible to safely rule out DVT in a large number of patients in primary care, reducing unnecessary patient burden and health care costs.


Author(s):  
Noah Wald-Dickler ◽  
Todd C Lee ◽  
Soodtida Tangpraphaphorn ◽  
Susan M Butler-Wu ◽  
Nina Wang ◽  
...  

Abstract Objectives We sought to determine the comparative efficacy of fosfomycin vs. ertapenem for outpatient treatment of complicated urinary tract infections (cUTI). Methods We conducted a multi-centered, retrospective cohort study involving patients with cUTI treated with outpatient oral fosfomycin vs. intravenous ertapenem at three public hospitals in Los Angeles County between January 2018 and September 2020. The primary outcome was resolution of clinical symptoms 30 days after diagnosis. Results We identified 322 patients with cUTI treated with fosfomycin (n = 110) or ertapenem (n = 212) meeting study criteria. Study arms had similar demographics, although patients treated with ertapenem more frequently had pyelonephritis or bacteremia while fosfomycin-treated patients had more retained catheters, nephrolithiasis, or urinary obstruction. Most infections were due to extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing E. coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae; 80-90% of which were resistant to other oral options. Adjusted odds ratios for clinical success at 30 days, clinical success at last follow up, and relapse were 1.21 (0.68 to 2.16), 0.84 (0.46 to 1.52), and 0.94 (0.52 to 1.70), for fosfomycin vs. ertapenem, respectively. Patients treated with fosfomycin had significant reductions in length of hospital stay and length of antimicrobial therapy, and fewer adverse events (1 vs. 10). Fosfomycin outcomes were similar irrespective of duration of lead-in IV therapy or fosfomycin dosing interval (daily, every other day, every third day). Conclusion These results would support the conduct of a randomized controlled trial to verify efficacy. In the meantime, they suggest fosfomycin may be a reasonable stepdown from IV antibiotics for cUTI.


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