Recurrent cystitis. Prompt diagnosis risk stratification and management

Major work has been done unraveling the genomes of major bacterial classes, highlighting the nature and importance of the microbiome, also in previously sterile sites such as the urine, elucidating the immune system in the different compartments, such as the urinary tract. We have learned an enormous amount of information about host-pathogen interaction, microbial factors, and the immune system. According to these principles the recent Covid-19 pandemic has created an enormous collaborative work, resulting in outstanding successes, such as developing test systems and vaccines in previously unbelievable short times. This book approaches one of the most frequent infections. Apart from the issue of antimicrobial resistance, which is accompanied by the frequent antibiotic treatments in this patient population, the affected persons suffer severe psychosocial consequences amongst others. The authors target recurrent cystitis from various angles, highlighting classification systems, epidemiology, diagnostic strategies, risk factors, microbiological corner stones, and therapeutic principles, including antibiotic sparing strategies. Recurrent cystitis is not simple to treat, but calls for an encompassing management, keeping in mind not only the individual patient’s outcome, but also the endpoints of microbiome preservation and prevention of antimicrobial resistance.