Guidelines
Urinary Tract Infections

Urinary Tract Infections

Uncomplicated Cystitis

Duration: 3-5 days, depending on antibiotic class

  • Nitrofurantoin: 5 days
  • SMX/TMP: 3 days
  • Fosfomycin: 1 day

Uncomplicated defined by: non-pregnant female, no recent instrumentation or catheterization, absence of structural abnormality of urinary tract and without signs/symptoms of upper urinary tract infection

Complicated Cystitis

Duration: 7 days

Complicated defined by: failure to meet uncomplicated criteria

Pyelonephritis

Duration: 7 days for non-pregnant women and men without underlying anatomic abnormalities

Consider extending duration to 10-14 days if:

  • slow to respond to therapy
  • treatment with beta-lactam 
  • urinary tract abnormalities (e.g. renal calculi, obstruction)
  • underlying co-morbidities such as diabetes mellitus, immunocompromised