Urinary tract infections: Brave decisions and when not to treat
Urinary tract infections are among the most commonly diagnosed conditions in small animal practice, yet their management remains an area of ongoing debate. This session will take a practical, case-based approach to re-evaluating how we diagnose and manage UTIs, with a particular focus on antimicrobial stewardship. We will explore the clinical relevance of bacteriuria, including when treatment is truly indicated and when monitoring may be more appropriate. Emphasis will be placed on moving beyond routine antibiotic use, considering alternative strategies for managing bacteriuria and infection. Importantly, we will discuss the confidence required to sometimes not treat, and how to make those decisions safely. Emerging insights into the urinary microbiome and host–microbe interactions will also be explored. The aim is to provide clinicians with a clear, evidence-informed framework for managing urinary tract disease in a more thoughtful and targeted way.
- Differentiate between clinically significant infection and subclinical bacteriuria
- Apply a evidence-based approach to deciding when treatment is indicated
- Develop confidence in making safe decisions not to treat in selected cases
- Explore alternative strategies for managing bacteriuria and urinary tract disease beyond antibiotics
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