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Guidance

Urinary tract infection: diagnostic tools for primary care

Quick reference materials for primary care on diagnosing and understanding culture results for urinary tract infections (UTI).

Updates to this page

From:
UK Health Security Agency and NHS England
Published:
21 November 2007
Last updated:
7 July 2025
Show all updates

  1. Removed references to myalgia and changed 'flu-like symptoms' to 'flu-like illnesses'.

  2. Updated diagnostic tool, based on review of recent literature and user feedback. Removed flowchart for children, included a separate flowchart for the management of catheter associated urinary tract infection, and published consultation feedback.

  3. Added link to 2024 consultation.

  4. Updated diagnostic tool, based on user feedback. Provided clarity on CAUTI management, age group focus for the flowcharts and information on when to refer for further assessment.

  5. Updated tables and flowcharts for adults over-65 in the quick reference tool, which has been newly endorsed by NICE to follow guidance on managing catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI).

  6. Updated with revised UTI quick reference guide.

  7. Updated with revised UTI quick reference guide and flowcharts.

  8. Added link to the public consultation 'Diagnosis of urinary tract infections: quick reference guide'.

  9. Updated version of documents.

  10. Latest update April 2011, under review September 2014.

  11. First published.

Documents

Diagnosis of urinary tract infections: quick reference tools for primary care

HTML

Diagnostic decision tool for women (under 65 years) with suspected UTI (print version)

PDF, 126 KB, 1 page

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email publications@ukhsa.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Diagnostic decision tool for adults over 65 years with suspected uncomplicated UTI (print version)

PDF, 131 KB, 1 page

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email publications@ukhsa.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Diagnostic decision tool for adults who have a suspected catheter-associated UTI (CAUTI) (print version)

PDF, 132 KB, 1 page

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email publications@ukhsa.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Details

These quick reference tools for primary care providers describe when to consider a urinary tract infection (UTI) in:

  • women aged under 65 years
  • adults aged over 65 years
  • adults with a urinary catheter who have a suspected catheter-associated UTI (CAUTI)

The text explains the flowcharts and supplies further information about diagnosis in different groups and about urine sampling.

For more information contact  TARGETAntibiotics@ukhsa.gov.uk

Consultation results

In summer 2024 we launched a consultation on the new version of this tool. We have now analysed the feedback and used it to improve this tool.

See the results of the consultation.

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