The management of urinary tract infections in postmenopausal women

Aim: To conduct an integrative review on the management of urinary tract infection in postmenopausal women. Search method: A search of databases, including CINAHL Complete, Medline Ovid and Scopus was conducted, using the keywords ‘urinary tract infections’, ‘post menopause’ and ‘management and treatment’. Inclusion criteria were full-text, peer-reviewed, academic journals published in English within the period January 2000 to October 2024. The PRISMA tool was used to refine the 12 articles for inclusion. Results: A thematic approach was used to analyse the 12 papers included in the review, and three key themes were identified. These were: 1) antibiotic treatment; 2) oestrogen replacement; and 3) diet and lifestyle interventions. Conclusion: Reduction in urinary tract infections (UTIs) was identified after topical oestrogen use, with significantly lowered vaginal pH, no adverse side effects and a decrease in urinary tract symptoms, including urge frequency and dysuria. Oral oestrogen did not support prevention of UTIs in postmenopausal women, but rather identified a vast number of side effects. Antibiotics remain ‘gold standard’ treatment for UTIs. Unfortunately, non-antibiotic approaches to managing UTIs did not yield any firm evidence to replace antibiotics entirely. Further qualitative longitudinal studies are required. These findings are relevant to all health professionals, in particular, nurses.