What is a
chronic UTI?
Frequently asked
questions
Research and
developments
Treatment
options
About chronic UTI
Chronic urinary tract infection (chronic UTI) is a largely unrecognised condition that affects many people, with the majority being women. Most will never receive an accurate diagnosis or appropriate treatment for their condition. In 2023, the NHS website in the United Kingdom added chronic UTI as a category of UTI. You can read more here.
Anyone can develop a chronic UTI, and researchers say the biggest risk factor is having had a UTI. Between 25–35 percent of people treated for a normal, acute UTI fail that treatment and many go on to develop a complicated, embedded infection that is more difficult to diagnose and treat.
This site contains information about chronic UTI that will help you understand this condition. Once educated, we encourage you to become proactive in your own health by asking questions, starting an open conversation with your doctor and sharing information about chronic UTI.
Remember, the best advocate for your health is YOU!
How can you help?
Chronic UTI Australia is completely run by volunteers and is funded entirely through donations.
Support us today and help someone like you!
Quick facts
What is chronic UTI?
A chronic UTI develops when normal UTI bacteria evade immune or antibiotic attack and burrow into the bladder wall (urothelium) for safety. Once the bacteria become embedded within the cells of the urothelium, the infection becomes increasingly difficult to diagnose using current testing methods, and is challenging to treat. There is little to no acknowledgement or recognition of chronic UTI in Australia, despite the impact being widespread. Read more about chronic UTI here. You can also download our UTI factsheet here and share it with your doctor.
Can I still have a UTI if my test is negative?
Yes, absolutely! If you have UTI symptoms but your urine tests come back negative, you have good reason to question these tests. Current UTI tests are being used for a purpose they were not originally designed for. Inadequate testing could be a major underlying contributor to the development of chronic UTI and other undiagnosed lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). Read more about UTI testing. You can also download our UTI factsheet here and share it with your doctor.
How is chronic UTI diagnosed and treated?
If you live in Australia and you suspect you have a chronic UTI, it’s unlikely you will be accurately diagnosed, let alone receive appropriate treatment. However, the good news is a growing number of proactive and educated Australians are now being diagnosed and properly treated for chronic UTI. Read more about how they are doing this.
Could my IC/PBS be a chronic UTI?
Many people diagnosed and successfully treated for a chronic UTI were first diagnosed with a urinary syndrome. The Artemis Cystitis chronic UTI clinic website states over 90 percent of their patients come with a previous IC/BPS diagnosis, when fresh urine microscopy shows evidence of a chronic UTI that has been missed on standard UTI tests. Read more about common chronic UTI symptoms that are unfortunately overlooked when UTI tests are reported as negative. Our new Chronic UTI Worksheet is a useful tool to help you understand and document your symptoms, track your pain and monitor your treatment. It also helps enhance communication between you and your doctor. You can download the worksheet here.
How can I connect with others with chronic UTI?
You’re not alone. There’s a whole online community out there researching and discussing chronic UTI, and supporting each other around the clock.
Check our FAQ section for a current list of online chronic UTI groups, websites and other resources we know about.
You can also stay connected with our online community by subscribing to our email list.
Hearing Patient Voices chronic UTI survey report
The Hearing Patient Voices survey was conducted by Chronic UTI Australia (Inc.). The aim of the survey was to better understand the impacts of chronic UTI on individuals, as well as potential impacts on the health system and society in general.
Four key themes emerged from the survey data:
- Chronic UTI severely impacts quality-of-life.
- Poor healthcare experiences are common among chronic UTI patients.
- People with chronic UTI feel let down by diagnostic and treatment failures.
- Health professionals’ lack of knowledge and expertise in diagnosing and treating chronic UTI results in costs to the health system that could be avoided.
Download the Hearing Patient Voices chronic UTI survey report to learn more about the serious impact chronic UTI has on people’s lives.
Sign up to our email list
We provide up-to-date information and help with navigating chronic UTIs. Sign up to our email list and receive a copy of our Understanding Chronic UTI information booklet.