Acute Infections of the Urinary Tract and the Urethral Syndrome in General Practice

Abstract

An unselected group of 130 patients with symptoms of an acute infection of the urinary tract have been studied from general practice. Only 77 (59%) of these 130 patients had infected urine. Treatment with sulphafurazole was possible in 72, and was effective in 57 (79% of those treated). A high incidence of infection observed in young women was apparently related to sexual activity rather than child-bearing. Of the patients with symptoms suggesting acute infections of the urine 41% had urine free of infection on culture. These patients were regarded as having the “urethral syndrome.” Adequate follow-up was possible in 115 (85%) patients; infection persisted or recurred in the three months after treatment in 25 out of 69 patients with initial infection. Bacilluria developed in the same period in 13 out of 46 patients without initial infection. Similarities between the patients with and without definite infection in the initial urine suggest that the “urethral syndrome” represents infection confined to the urethra and adjoining glands. This syndrome is part of the spectrum of infections of the lower urinary tract. © 1965, British Medical Journal Publishing Group. All rights reserved.