PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - E A Fenwick AU - A H Briggs AU - C I Hawke TI - Management of urinary tract infection in general practice: a cost-effectiveness analysis. DP - 2000 Aug 01 TA - British Journal of General Practice PG - 635--639 VI - 50 IP - 457 4099 - http://bjgp.org/content/50/457/635.short 4100 - http://bjgp.org/content/50/457/635.full SO - Br J Gen Pract2000 Aug 01; 50 AB - BACKGROUND: Symptoms associated with urinary tract infection (UTI) are common in women in general practice and represent a significant burden for the National Health Service. There is considerable variation among general practitioners in the management of patients presenting with these symptoms. AIM: To identify the most appropriate patient management strategy given current information for non-pregnant, adult women presenting in general practice with symptoms of uncomplicated UTI. METHOD: A decision analytic model incorporating a variety of patient management strategies was constructed using available published information and expert opinion. This model was able to provide guidance on current best practice based upon cost-effectiveness (cost per symptom-free day). RESULTS: Empiric treatment was found to be the least costly strategy available. It saved two days of symptoms per episode of UTI at a cost of 14 Pounds. The empiric-and-laboratory strategy involves an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of 215 Pounds per symptom day averted per episode of UTI. The remaining patient management strategies are never optimal. CONCLUSION: Empiric treatment of patients presenting with symptoms of UTI was found to be cost-effective under a range of assumptions for this patient group. However, recognition of the impact of this strategy upon antibiotic resistance may lead to the dipstick strategy being considered a superior strategy overall.