ANI
13 Aug 2019, 23:37 GMT+10
Washington D.C. [USA], Aug 13 (ANI): A recent study shows that doctors require more accurate and rapid testing capabilities for UTI, to decrease overprescribing of antibiotics.
The study was published in the journal, 'EClinicalMedicine'Dr Mar Pujades Rodriguez, from the University of Leeds, asserts that without access to a reliable test, the doctors tend to prescribe unnecessary antibiotic treatments, which increase the risk of antibacterial resistance.
Current dipstick tests to screen a urine sample for infection are inaccurate and laboratory tests are slow. National Health Service (NHS) guidelines currently recommend laboratory testing in particular patient groups such as children and adult men.
A UTI is a common problem but in some cases, complications may occur when the infection spreads to cause infection in the kidney.
The research conducted by the researchers at the University of Leeds looked at nearly 500,000 cases of UTIs in patients in England, treated between 2011 and 2015, from records held at 390 GP practices.
Less than one in five patients treated for a UTI had a laboratory urine test to diagnose their problem. Tests were not carried out more often in men than women, or to those who returned for a second treatment as their symptoms persisted, contrary to NHS guidelines.
The study also found that one in five patients who have to return to their doctors for a second round of treatment for a UTI are being prescribed the same antibiotic that was given to them for the first time, which is not recommended the practice and could increase the chance of resistance developing.
Lead researcher Dr Mar Pujades Rodriguez, from the University of Leeds Institute of Health Sciences, said: "Doctors are currently limited in their options when somebody shows signs of having a UTI, and they urgently need access to accurate rapid diagnostics tests.""UTIs are one of the most common reasons that antibiotics are prescribed, so the potential contribution this is causing to antibiotic resistance might be very significant. In addition, many patients may be making things worse by taking leftover antibiotics that they have been prescribed and using them to treat other infections, or by not finishing their course of treatment," he added.
Doctors can currently use a laboratory test to diagnose the urine infection, but it takes around two to three days to provide the results. The test is supposed to ensure that the patient actually has a UTI, and that the right antibiotic is prescribed to treat it. (ANI)
Get a daily dose of Leeds Times news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Leeds Times.
More InformationNo, residents of the capital don't hate their own city. They are the first to defend its honor and prove ...
The USSR was known for its many brilliant scientists, outstanding athletes and creative intellectuals. The reason was not just a ...
Berlin - More than 135 tennis players, including one ranked in the ATP top 30, are implicated in an international ...
Northern Ireland's faltering efforts to resurrect its collapsed government resume Monday following a general election in Britain that might give ...
An Argentine ex-police officer linked to the murder of hundreds of people during the country's "dirty war" was on a ...
Nyon - Liverpool will return to the scene of their 2019 Champions League triumph after they were drawn against Atletico ...
MEXICO CITY - Human remains discovered last month at a farm outside the city of Guadalajara have been confirmed as ...
PanARMENIAN.Net - Several U.S. military vehicles entered Syria's Al-Hasakah Governorate on Sunday, December 15 after crossing into the Levantine country ...
WINDHOEK, NAMIBIA - Rhino poaching in Namibia dropped to 41 individuals killed in all of 2019 so far, compared with ...
Donald Trump is no Richard Nixon.Nixon was a bully, a cynic and a crook who did all kinds of damage ...
LOS ANGELES, California - Michael Henschel offered to help financially struggling individuals save their homes.Instead, he stole their American dream.Henschel, ...
Last Easter an antisemitism crisis erupted in the UK setting the Jewish Community against the Labour Party, or more precisely ...