Recurrent UTIs are a common problem in otherwise healthy young adult females, however there is no evidence that they lead to other health problems such as hypertension in the absence of underlying anatomic abnormalities.
This patient has recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs), defined as >2 infections in 6 months or >3 infections in 1 year; recurrence typically occurs due to reinfection of the same organism (eg, Escherichia coli). Behavioral strategies that may prevent UTI recurrences include early postcoital voiding and avoidance of spermicides and diaphragms.
However, the most effective strategy for recurrent UTI prevention is with either daily or postcoital antibiotic prophylaxis. Postcoital prophylaxis is preferred in women with UTIs temporally related to intercourse; efficacy is similar to daily prophylaxis. Recommended prophylactic antibiotics include trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, nitrofurantoin, cephalexin, and ciprofloxacin. However, resistance of uropathogenic E coli to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole is increasing and may limit its usefulness as an antibiotic prophylaxis.