Antibiotic use in catheter-associated UTI: NICE Guidelines
NICE has released guidelines on antimicrobial prescribing strategy for catheter-associated urinary tract infection(UTI) in children, young people, and adults.
A catheter is a tube that is inserted in the bladder to drain urine. It can let bacteria into the body, and this can lead to a bladder or kidney infection (urinary tract infection, or UTI). Bacteria are often found in the urine of people with catheters.
Recommendations
The guidelines include recommendations on:
1.1 Managing catheter-associated urinary tract infection
1.2 Self-care
1.3 Choice of antibiotic
1.4 Preventing catheter-associated urinary tract infections
1.1 Managing catheter-associated urinary tract infection1.1.1 Be aware that:
- a catheter-associated urinary tract infection (UTI) is an asymptomatic infection of the bladder or kidneys in a person with a urinary catheter
- the longer a catheter is in place, the more likely bacteria will be found in the urine; after 1 month nearly all people have bacteriuria
- antibiotic treatment is not routinely needed for asymptomatic bacteriuria in people with a catheter.
1.1.2 Give advice about managing symptoms with self-care to all people with catheter-associated UTI.
Treatment
1.1.3 Consider removing or, if this cannot be done, changing the catheter as soon as possible in people with a catheter-associated UTI if it has been in place for more than 7 days. Do not allow catheter removal or change to delay antibiotic treatment.
1.1.4 Obtain a urine sample before antibiotics are taken. Take the sample from the catheter, via a sampling port is provided, and use an aseptic technique (in line with the NICE guideline on healthcare-associated infections).
- If the catheter has been changed, obtain the sample from the new catheter.
- If the catheter has been removed, obtain a midstream specimen of urine.
1.1.5 Send the urine sample for culture and susceptibility testing, noting a suspected catheter-associated infection and an antibiotic prescribed.
1.1.6 Offer an antibiotic (see the recommendations on choice of antibiotic) to people with catheter-associated UTI. Take account of:
- the severity of symptoms
- the risk of developing complications, which is higher in people with known or suspected structural or functional abnormality of the genitourinary tract, or immunosuppression
- previous urine culture and susceptibility results
- previous antibiotic use, which may have led to resistant bacteria.
1.1.7 When urine culture and susceptibility results are available:
- review the choice of antibiotic and
- change the antibiotic according to susceptibility results if the bacteria are resistant, using narrow-spectrum antibiotics wherever possible.
Advice when an antibiotic prescription is given
1.1.8 When an antibiotic is given, as well as the general advice on self-care, give advice about:
- possible adverse effects of antibiotics, particularly diarrhea and nausea
- seeking medical help if:
- symptoms worsen at any time or
- symptoms do not start to improve within 48 hours of taking the antibiotic or
- the person becomes systemically very unwell.
Reassessment
1.1.9 Reassess people with catheter-associated UTI if symptoms worsen at any time, or do not start to improve within 48 hours of taking the antibiotic, taking account of:
- other possible diagnoses
- any symptoms or signs suggesting a more serious illness or condition, such as sepsis
- previous antibiotic use, which may have led to resistant bacteria.
Referral and seeking specialist advice
1.1.10 Refer people with catheter-associated UTI to the hospital if they have any symptoms or signs suggesting a more serious illness or condition (for example, sepsis).
1.1.11 Consider referring or seeking specialist advice for people with catheter-associated UTI if they:
- are significantly dehydrated or unable to take oral fluids and medicines or
- are pregnant or
- have a higher risk of developing complications (for example, people with a known or suspected structural or functional abnormality of the genitourinary tract, or underlying disease [such as diabetes or immunosuppression]) or
- have recurrent catheter-associated UTIs or
- have bacteria that are resistant to oral antibiotics.
1.2 Self-care
1.2.1 Advise people with catheter-associated UTI about using paracetamol for pain.
1.2.2 Advise people with catheter-associated UTI about drinking enough fluids to avoid dehydration.
1.3 Choice of antibiotic
1.3.1 When prescribing an antibiotic for catheter-associated UTI, take account of local antimicrobial resistance data and:
- follow table 1 for non-pregnant women and men aged 16 years and over
- follow table 2 for pregnant women aged 12 years and over
- follow table 3 for children and young people under 16 years.
1.3.2 Give oral antibiotics first line if the person can take oral medicines, and the severity of their condition does not require intravenous antibiotics.
1.3.3 Review intravenous antibiotics by 48 hours and consider stepping down to oral antibiotics where possible.
Table 1 Antibiotics for non-pregnant women and men aged 16 years and over
| Antibiotic | Dosage and course length |
| First-choice oral antibiotic if no upper UTI symptoms | |
| Nitrofurantoin – if eGFR ≥45 ml/minute3,4 | 100 mg modified-release twice a day for 7 days |
| Trimethoprim – if a low risk of resistance5 | 200 mg twice a day for 7 days |
| Amoxicillin (only if culture results available and susceptible) | 500 mg three times a day for 7 days |
| Second-choice oral antibiotic if no upper UTI symptoms (when first-choice not suitable) 2 | |
| Pivmecillinam (a penicillin)4 | 400 mg initial dose, then 200 mg three times a day for a total of 7 days |
| First-choice oral antibiotic if upper UTI symptoms | |
| Cefalexin | 500 mg twice or three times a day (up to 1 to 1.5 g three or four times a day for severe infections) for 7 to 10 days |
| Co-amoxiclav (only if culture results available and susceptible) | 500/125 mg three times a day for 7 to 10 days |
| Trimethoprim (only if culture results available and susceptible) | 200 mg twice a day for 14 days |
| Ciprofloxacin (consider safety issues6) | 500 mg twice a day for 7 days |
| First-choice intravenous antibiotic (if vomiting, unable to take oral antibiotics or severely unwell). Antibiotics may be combined if susceptibility or sepsis a concern | |
| Co-amoxiclav (only in combination, unless culture results confirm susceptibility) | 1.2 g three times a day |
| Cefuroxime | 750 mg to 1.5 g three or four times a day |
| Ceftriaxone | 1 to 2 g once a day |
| Ciprofloxacin (consider safety issues6) | 400 mg twice or three times a day |
| Gentamicin | Initially 5 to 7 mg/kg once a day, subsequent doses adjusted according to serum gentamicin concentration8 |
| Amikacin | Initially 15 mg/kg once a day (maximum per dose 1.5 g once a day), subsequent doses adjusted according to serum amikacin concentration (maximum 15 g per course) |
| Second-choice intravenous antibiotic | |
| Consult local microbiologist | |
| Abbreviations: BNF, British national formulary; eGFR, estimated glomerular filtration rate; UTI, urinary tract infection. | |
Table 2 Antibiotics for pregnant women aged 12 years and over
| Antibiotic | Dose and course length |
| First-choice oral antibiotic | |
| Cefalexin | 500 mg twice or three times a day (up to 1 to 1.5 g three or four times a day for severe infections) for 7 to 10 days |
| First-choice intravenous antibiotic (if vomiting, unable to take oral antibiotics, or severely unwell) | |
| Cefuroxime | 750 mg to 1.5 g three or four times a day |
| Second-choice antibiotics or combining antibiotics if susceptibility or sepsis a concern | |
| Consult local microbiologist | |
Table 3 Antibiotics for children and young people under 16 years
| Antibiotic | Dosage and course length |
| Children under 3 months | |
| Refer to pediatric specialist and treatment with intravenous antibiotics in line with the NICE guideline on fever in under 5s. | |
| Children aged 3 months and over | |
| First-choice oral antibiotics | |
| Trimethoprim – if the low risk of resistance | 3 to 5 months, 4 mg/kg (maximum 200 mg per dose) or 25 mg twice a day for 7 to 10 days 6 months to 5 years, 4 mg/kg (maximum 200 mg per dose) or 50 mg twice a day for 7 to 10 days 6 to 11 years, 4 mg/kg (maximum 200 mg per dose) or 100 mg twice a day for 7 to 10 days 12 to 15 years, 200 mg twice a day for 7 to 10 days |
| Amoxicillin (only if culture results available and susceptible) | 3 to 11 months, 125 mg three times a day for 7 to 10 days 1 to 4 years, 250 mg three times a day for 7 to 10 days 5 to 15 years, 500 mg three times a day for 7 to 10 days |
| Cefalexin | 3 to 11 months, 12.5 mg/kg or 125 mg twice a day for 7 to 10 days (25 mg/kg two to four times a day [maximum 1 g per dose four times a day] for severe infections) 1 to 4 years, 12.5 mg/kg twice a day or 125 mg three times a day for 7 to 10 days (25 mg/kg two to four times a day [maximum 1 g per dose four times a day] for severe infections) 5 to 11 years, 12.5 mg/kg twice a day or 250 mg three times a day for 7 to 10 days (25 mg/kg two to four times a day [maximum 1 g per dose four times a day] for severe infections) 12 to 15 years, 500 mg twice or three times a day (up to 1 to 1.5 g three or four times a day for severe infections) for 7 to 10 days |
| Co-amoxiclav (only if culture results available and susceptible) | 3 to 11 months, 0.25 ml/kg of 125/31 suspension three times a day for 7 to 10 days (dose doubled in severe infection) 1 to 5 years, 0.25 ml/kg of 125/31 suspension or 5 ml of 125/31 suspension three times a day for 7 to 10 days (dose doubled in severe infection) 6 to 11 years, 0.15 ml/kg of 250/62 suspension or 5 ml of 250/62 suspension three times a day for 7 to 10 days (dose doubled in severe infection) 12 to 15 years, 250/125 mg or 500/125 mg three times a day for 7 to 10 days |
| First-choice intravenous antibiotics (if vomiting, unable to take oral antibiotics or severely unwell). Antibiotics may be combined if susceptibility or sepsis a concern | |
| Co-amoxiclav (only in combination unless culture results confirm susceptibility) | 3 months to 15 years, 30 mg/kg three times a day (maximum 1.2 g three times a day) |
| Cefuroxime | 3 months to 15 years, 20 mg/kg three times a day (maximum 750 mg per dose); (50 to 60 mg/kg three or four times a day [maximum 1.5 g per dose] for severe infections) |
| Ceftriaxone | 3 months to 11 years (up to 50 kg), 50 to 80 mg/kg once a day (maximum 4 g per day) 9 to 11 years (50 kg and above), 1 to 2 g once a day 12 to 15 years, 1 to 2 g once a day |
| Gentamicin | Initially 7 mg/kg once a day, subsequent doses adjusted according to serum gentamicin concentration7 |
| Amikacin | Initially 15 mg/kg once a day, subsequent doses adjusted according to serum amikacin concentration7 |
| Second-choice intravenous antibiotic | |
| Consult local microbiologist | |
1.4 Preventing catheter-associated urinary tract infections
- Do not routinely offer antibiotic prophylaxis to prevent catheter-associated UTIs in people with a short-term or a long-term (indwelling or intermittent) catheter.
- Give advice about seeking medical help if symptoms of an acute UTI develop.
For further reference log on to :
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng113/chapter/Recommendations
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