Abstract

Bacterial urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common infectious diseases that can be associated with substantial morbidity and significant expenditures. The mainstay of management of UTIs is almost exclusively antibiotic agent. There are two predominant aims in the antibacterial treatment of UTIs: (i) rapid and effective response to therapy and prevention of recurrence of the individual patient treated; (ii) prevention of emergence of resistance to antimicrobial chemotherapy in the microbial environment. The main drawback of current antibiotic therapies is the emergence and rapid increase of antibiotic resistance. To combat this, active research is going on. This review highlights the current concepts and recent advances in our understandings and future treatment options for UTIs. (Korean J UTII 2006;1:17-23)