Hydration monitoring in the prevention of recurrent idiopathic urinary tract infections in pre-menopausal women

• Published in: British journal of urology Vol. 76; no. 1; p. 90
• Main Authors: Eckford, S D, Keane, D P, Lamond, E, Jackson, S R, Abrams, P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01-07-1995
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Drinking; Female; Humans; Monitoring, Ambulatory - methods; Osmolar Concentration; Premenopause; Reagent Strips; Recurrence; Specific Gravity; Urinary Tract Infections - diagnosis; Urinary Tract Infections - prevention & control; Urination
• ISSN: 0007-1331
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1464-410X.1995.tb07839.x

To assess whether the use of simple hydration monitoring can encourage adequate hydration and reduce urinary osmolality and the incidence of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in a population of susceptible pre-menopausal women with recurrent idiopathic urinary infections.
The study included 28 pre-menopausal women who had at least two idiopathic UTIs in the previous 6 months. Urinary osmolality was assessed by the patients at each void by a simple hand-held probe, and the readings over 4 months compared. Monthly urine culture was compared between successive 4-month periods in which the probe was or was not used.
The study was completed by 17 women. There was a significant shift towards urine of lower osmolality over the 4-month period using the probe (Pearson's chi 2 < 0.001). Significantly fewer urinary tract infections developed during the 4 months using the probe (McNemar's chi 2 = 0.046).
The use of the osmolality probe encouraged the subject to maintain adequate hydration. The resulting augmentation of the natural urethral 'washout' mechanism led to lower osmolality urine and a reduction in the incidence of UTIs.