A 25-year-old woman presents with urinary frequency (including nocturia), burning on urination, and cloudy urine for two days. She is not pregnant. Which option would be most appropriate?

A 25-year-old woman presents with urinary frequency (including nocturia), burning on urination, and cloudy urine for two days. She is not pregnant. Which option would be most appropriate?

• A. Reassure and advise rest and fluids
• B. Refer to GP for evaluation
• C. Supply a 3-day course of nitrofurantoin supplied via PGD
• D. Recommend cranberry juice only

Answer: (C)

Uncomplicated lower urinary tract infection in a nonpregnant young woman is best managed with a short course of an antibiotic to relieve symptoms promptly and prevent spread. Supplying nitrofurantoin for a brief course under a PGD fits this scenario because nitrofurantoin concentrates in the urine and is effective against the common UTI pathogens like E. coli, making it a sensible first-line choice for uncomplicated cystitis. A 3-day course provides adequate exposure to clear symptoms in many healthy individuals while minimizing overtreatment. Relying on cranberry juice alone has little proven benefit for curing the infection, and simply reassuring or advising rest would miss the active treatment needed here. Referral to a GP would be more appropriate only if red flags appeared (fever, flank pain, vomiting, pregnancy, diabetes, catheter, or signs of a complicated infection) or if symptoms did not improve with initial therapy.

Uncomplicated lower urinary tract infection in a nonpregnant young woman is best managed with a short course of an antibiotic to relieve symptoms promptly and prevent spread. Supplying nitrofurantoin for a brief course under a PGD fits this scenario because nitrofurantoin concentrates in the urine and is effective against the common UTI pathogens like E. coli, making it a sensible first-line choice for uncomplicated cystitis. A 3-day course provides adequate exposure to clear symptoms in many healthy individuals while minimizing overtreatment. Relying on cranberry juice alone has little proven benefit for curing the infection, and simply reassuring or advising rest would miss the active treatment needed here. Referral to a GP would be more appropriate only if red flags appeared (fever, flank pain, vomiting, pregnancy, diabetes, catheter, or signs of a complicated infection) or if symptoms did not improve with initial therapy.