UI is a prevalent cross-cultural condition. Future studies should rely on universally accepted standardized definitions to produce meaningful evidence-based conclusions, as well as project the costs of this global healthcare problem.

Female UI is prevalent in Saudi Arabia; however, the majority of women with this condition did not seek medical advice.

U rinary tract infections (UTIs) occur more often in women than in men, at a ratio of 8:1. Approximately 50-60% of women report at least one UTI in their lifetime, and one in three will have at least one symptomatic UTI necessitating antibiotic treatment by age 24. [1][2][3] Normally, the urinary tract is sterile, but bacteria may rise from the perianal region, possibly leading to UTI. Pathogens in the bladder may stay silent or can cause irritative symptoms like urinary frequency and urgency, and 8% of women may have asymptomatic bacteriuria. If bacteria enter the blood stream, they could cause severe complications, including septicaemia, shock and, rarely, death. 4,5 The definition of recurrent urinary tract infection (RUTI) is three UTIs with three positive urine cultures during a 12-month period, or two infections during the previous 6 months. [5][6][7][8] This article provides an up-to-date review of the epidemiology, pathophysiology, risk factors, diagnosis, management and prevention of RUTIs in women. Classification of Urinary Tract InfectionsUTIs are classified into 6 categories. The first category is an uncomplicated infection; this is when the urinary tract is normal, both structurally and physiologically, and there is no associated disorder that impairs the host defense mechanisms. The second category is an complicated infection; this is Escherichia coli is the organism that causes UTIs in most patients. Recurrent UTIs (RUTI) are mainly caused by reinfection by the same pathogen. Having frequent sexual intercourse is one of the greatest risk factors for RUTIs. In a subgroup of individuals with coexisting morbid conditions, complicated RUTIs can lead to upper tract infections or urosepsis. Although the initial treatment is antimicrobial therapy, use of different prophylactic regimens and alternative strategies are available to reduce exposure to antibiotics.

No abstract