The role of Dutch guidelines in the diagnostic outcomes and treatment decisions of hospitalised older adults with a suspected urinary tract infection: a retrospective cohort study

Key summary points Aim To evaluate the applicability of the urinary tract infection (UTI) diagnostic and treatment guidelines of the Dutch Association of Urology (NVU) and Dutch Association of Elderly Care Physicians (Verenso) in hospitalised older adults with suspected UTI in terms of diagnostic outcomes and treatment decisions. Findings Adherence to either the NVU or the Verenso guidelines suggested that fewer antibiotics would have been prescribed in our study population. However, implementing the Verenso guideline in hospitals would demand a shift from diagnostic testing to focusing on urinary tract-related symptoms. Message Compliance with the NVU or the Verenso guidelines may have resulted in fewer antibiotic prescriptions in the study population.