Establishing a dedicated UTI clinic: Challenges and a guide to success

<h2>Abstract</h2><h3>Introduction</h3> Urinary tract infections (UTIs) have a significant impact on quality of life for patients and present complex management issues that challenge healthcare systems. Recognizing these challenges, dedicated UTI clinics are being established to provide comprehensive care. We aimed to explore the key elements, challenges, and potential solutions in setting up and running UTI clinics. By drawing insights from discussions with specialists from existing centres, we seek to provide guidance for healthcare professionals intending to establish UTI clinics de novo. <h3>Methods</h3> We conducted a qualitative study involving discussions with medical specialists from UTI clinics (Switzerland, UK, Netherlands). Initial insights were gathered through group discussion, followed by refinement through email correspondence. Analyses focused on identifying key themes associated with successful clinic operation, challenges encountered, and strategies employed to overcome them. <h3>Results</h3> Key elements identified in the running of successful UTI clinics included multidisciplinary and patient-centred approaches, as well as staff dedicated to the management of UTI. Discussions highlighted the importance of combining expertise from urology, clinical infectious diseases, nursing and microbiology to address complex UTI cases effectively. Challenges identified encompassed logistical issues in establishing multidisciplinary clinics, waiting lists, knowledge gaps, and resource allocation. Strategies to address these challenges varied depending on the context. <h3>Conclusions</h3> Despite variations in clinic setups and patient populations, the common goal of UTI clinics is to improve patient outcomes and reduce the burden on healthcare systems. Future efforts should focus on effectiveness of different operational models to optimise complex UTI management. Building prospective patient cohorts and collaborative data analysis are crucial steps toward filling knowledge gaps and improving patient care.