title: Treatment of uncomplicated cystitis: analysis of prescribing in New Zealand.
abstract: To describe prescribing for women with suspected urinary tract infections, including suspected uncomplicated cystitis, in New Zealand.
  
  
  
  Randomly selected community pharmacies participated in the study. Women attending the pharmacy in a 2-week period in 2012 for prescribed or non-prescription treatment of symptoms suggesting a urinary tract infection, or prophylaxis of a urinary tract infection, were invited to self-complete a questionnaire. Analysis focused on prescribing for women with symptoms of cystitis without complicating features.
  
  
  
  Valid questionnaires arising from a prescription treatment were received from 789 patients from 139 pharmacies. Questionnaire data indicated that 17% of women had symptoms of cystitis without complicating features. Most prescribing was for a first-line agent, trimethoprim (59%) or nitrofurantoin (14%), but norfloxacin was also common (21%). Women with self-reported antibiotic use for suspected cystitis in the past 6 months were more likely to be prescribed norfloxacin than those with no such use. Many prescriptions were for a dose or duration outside those recommended in New Zealand guidelines.
  
  
  
  While use of first-line agents is generally high, norfloxacin use could be reduced further. There is scope to understand clinical practice that deviates from guideline use regarding dose and duration.
authors.affiliation: PO Box 9349, Newmarket, Auckland 1149. n.gauld@auckland.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Natalie J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Gauld
authors.forename: Irene Sl
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Rosemary B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Ikram
authors.forename: Mark G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Stephen A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Buetow
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003556:Cystitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D009582:Nitrofurantoin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009643:Norfloxacin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010594:Pharmacies; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014295:Trimethoprim / Q000008:administration & dosage; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D009582:Nitrofurantoin; D014295:Trimethoprim; D009643:Norfloxacin