Pharmacological prevention of recurrent urinary tract infections

For severe recurrent urinary tract infections (rUTIs), pharmacological prevention may be necessary. This review finds that existing data indicate that non-antibiotic treatments, such as cranberry products, methenamine hippurate, and vaginal estrogen for postmenopausal women, demonstrate efficacy comparable to low-dose antibiotics. These alternatives should be prioritised to reduce antibiotic use, development of resistance, and side effects. High-quality studies are needed to validate current evidence.