The Primary Care Approach to Urinary Tract Infections
Course code: A163Course summary
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common presentations in primary care, yet accurate diagnosis and management can be challenging. Differentiating between uncomplicated and complicated infections, interpreting urine testing appropriately, and applying antimicrobial stewardship principles are essential to safe and effective care. This practical half-day virtual course, delivered live via Zoom, will equip healthcare professionals with the confidence to assess, manage and prevent UTIs across a range of patient groups encountered in primary care.
Who should attend?
This live virtual course is designed for UK primary care healthcare professionals involved in the assessment and management of patients presenting with urinary symptoms, including:
- Nurse Practitioners and Practice Nurses
- Advanced Clinical Practitioners (ACPs)
- Physician Associates
- Pharmacists working in primary care
- Urgent Care and Community Clinicians
- Other healthcare professionals involved in primary care consultations
Important notes
This course runs from 09:30am- 1:00pm and is delivered virtually on Zoom.
Cost
| Course duration | Course CPD | Full price (incl VAT) per person |
|---|---|---|
| 0.5 day(s) | 3.5 hour(s) | £99 |
Discounts
| Dates | Block size | Block discount |
|---|---|---|
| 04/11/2026 | 4 | 10% |
| 03/02/2027 | 4 | 10% |
| 19/05/2027 | 4 | 10% |
Dates / venues
| Location - venue | Dates | No. of people |
|---|
Aims / objectives
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Differentiate between types of urinary tract infections, including lower and upper UTIs, and complicated versus uncomplicated presentations
- Conduct a structured clinical assessment and risk stratification of patients presenting with urinary symptoms
- Use urine dipsticks and urine cultures appropriately and interpret findings in context
- Prescribe evidence-based treatment for UTIs while applying principles of antimicrobial stewardship
- Recognise red flags, treatment failure and indications for escalation or referral
- Assess, manage and help prevent recurrent urinary tract infections (recurrent UTIs)
- Tailor management approaches for special populations, including pregnant patients, men, older adults and catheterised patients
Course programme
Understanding Urinary Tract Infections
- Epidemiology and prevalence of UTIs in primary care
- Lower versus upper urinary tract infections
- Complicated versus uncomplicated UTIs
- Common pathogens and risk factors
Clinical Assessment and Risk Stratification
- Structured history taking for urinary symptoms
- Recognising typical and atypical presentations
- Identifying risk factors and vulnerable groups
- Recognising signs of systemic illness and sepsis
Investigations in Primary Care
- Appropriate use and limitations of urine dipsticks
- Urine cultures: when to send and how to interpret results
- Asymptomatic bacteriuria and avoiding overdiagnosis
- Differential diagnoses and alternative causes of urinary symptoms
Evidence-Based Treatment and Antimicrobial Stewardship
- Current treatment approaches and prescribing considerations
- First-line antimicrobial options and duration of treatment
- Delayed prescribing and self-care advice
- Antimicrobial stewardship in everyday practice
Recognising Red Flags and Referral Criteria
- Pyelonephritis and suspected upper UTI
- Urosepsis and urgent escalation
- Treatment failure and recurrent symptoms
- When specialist referral is appropriate
Recurrent UTIs and Prevention Strategies
- Defining recurrent UTIs
- Risk factor assessment and prevention strategies
- Behavioural and lifestyle approaches
- Pharmacological and non-pharmacological prevention options
UTI Management in Special Populations
- UTI management in pregnancy
- UTIs in men
- Older adults and frailty considerations
- Catheter-associated UTIs and complex patients
Led by
TBA
Participant Voices!
DS- (Advanced Nurse Practitioner) “An excellent and very practical update on UTI management. I particularly valued the discussion around when not to prescribe antibiotics and how to better interpret urine results in primary care.”
YS- (Urgent Care Clinician) “Really relevant to day-to-day practice. The course helped clarify some of the ‘grey areas’ around recurrent UTIs, asymptomatic bacteriuria and managing more complex patients.”
TM- (Physicians Associate) “Clear, engaging and evidence-based throughout. I came away feeling much more confident in recognising red flags and knowing when escalation or referral is needed.”
WG- (Pharmacist) “One of the most useful infection management courses I’ve attended. It balanced clinical updates with practical advice that I could immediately apply in consultations.”
I often see patients with vague urinary symptoms — will this course help with the “grey areas”?
Yes. The course explores both typical and atypical presentations of UTIs, differential diagnoses, and how to approach uncertainty in clinical assessment. It is particularly useful for navigating presentations where symptoms, dipsticks or history do not clearly fit the picture.
Has guidance around UTI management changed, and will this course bring me up to date?
Absolutely. UTI management continues to evolve, particularly around antimicrobial stewardship, prescribing decisions and the use of investigations. The course provides an evidence-based update to help ensure practice remains current and clinically appropriate.
I worry about missing something serious — does the course cover when to escalate concerns?
Yes. Recognising red flags is a major focus of the course, including identifying patients at risk of pyelonephritis, urosepsis and treatment failure, as well as understanding when referral or urgent escalation is appropriate.
Will this course help reduce unnecessary antibiotic prescribing without compromising patient care?
Yes. The course examines practical prescribing strategies, delayed prescribing, self-care advice and approaches to managing patient expectations, helping clinicians balance effective symptom management with responsible antimicrobial use.