Adherence to and usefulness of the national treatment guideline for urinary tract infections (UTI) in a risk area

BACKGROUND: To optimize antibiotic treatment and decrease antibiotic resistance, national treatment guidelines are available for urinary tract infections (UTIs) in general practice. The usefulness of these guidelines in risk areas for antimicrobial resistance such as cross border regions or areas with dense agriculture, is unknown. METHODS: Midstream urine samples from women with symptoms of acute UTI visiting general practitioners (GPs) in the Westland area, a dense agriculture area, were microbiologically analysed, and patient characteristics, symptoms, previous and present antibiotic treatment were collected. The National Nivel data were used as reference for antibiotic resistance. RESULTS: Of 310 women with symptoms of uncomplicated UTI, 247 (80%) had a culture proven E. coli UTI. Empirical antibiotic therapy was prescribed to 148 patients (48%) in total; in 7% of women with a negative and 52% with a positive urine culture. Having more than one symptom was associated with the prescription of antibiotics; travel history or previous antibiotic use for UTI were not. The isolated uropathogens were susceptible to the empiric antibiotic therapy in 98% of patients. Resistance to co-amoxiclav was higher (22%) than reported in the national data of 2004 (12%), 2009 (13%) and 2014 (9%), as was the prevalence of extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL): 3.4% in our study versus 0.1%, 1% and 2.2% in the national data respectively. CONCLUSION: The presence of environmental and socio-demographic risk factors for antibiotic resistance did not influence the empiric choice nor susceptibility for antibiotics advised by the national guidelines in women with uncomplicated UTI. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12875-022-01840-6.