Recurrent uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women: a review.

Recurrent urinary tract infections most often present with symptoms of irritative voiding. In most cases, they are caused by reinfection with a previously isolated organism. Patients with one or more symptoms of uncomplicated recurrent urinary tract infection should undergo thorough examination and screening for underlying comorbidities that increase susceptibility. When frequent reinfections, empiric treatment relapse, persistent infections, or risk factors for complicated infections are encountered, patients may benefit from urodynamics, cystoscopy, renal ultrasound, intravenous urogram, or voiding cystourethrogram to evaluate for anatomic, functional, or metabolic abnormalities affecting the urinary tract (e.g., stones, stricture, obstruction, vesicoureteral reflux, lesions, detrusor underactivity). These patients may benefit from culture-guided empiric treatment and further evaluation by urology, nephrology, or infectious disease specialists. In patients with a history of uncomplicated urinary tract infections, empiric treatment guided by local antimicrobial resistance may efficiently treat a suspected recurrence. After successful treatment of the acute infection, postcoital prophylaxis, continuous prophylaxis, or self-start empiric treatment may be selected based on frequency of recurrent infections, temporal relation to intercourse, and patient characteristics. Ancillary measures such as probiotics, cranberry products, or local estrogen replacement may also be considered. This article will review the current definition, epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, work-up, treatment, treatment side effects, and prevention of recurrent urinary tract infections in women. A suggested algorithm for evaluation and treatment based on current literature is provided.

Sacral osteomyelitis after robotically assisted laparoscopic sacral colpopexy.

BACKGROUND: Osteomyelitis associated with using synthetic mesh for laparoscopic sacral colpopexy is rare. CASE: We present a patient who developed Staphylococcus sacral osteomyelitis after sacral colpopexy with synthetic mesh and titanium tack fixation to the sacral promontory in the absence of mesh erosion or fistula formation. The patient presented with low back pain 6 weeks postoperatively. Magnetic resonance imaging, bone aspirate, and culture confirmed sacral osteomyelitis and discitis 10 weeks after surgery. The patient underwent 8 weeks of outpatient antibiotic treatment. Six months after surgery, serial laboratory values have demonstrated excellent response to antibiotic treatment, and the patient has clinically improved without the need for mesh removal. CONCLUSION: We recommend a high index of suspicion for osteomyelitis in patients who present with back pain after sacral colpopexy. Osteomyelitis can occur as a complication of laparoscopic, robotic sacral colpopexy using mesh in the absence of abscess or fistula formation.