Family Nurse Practitioner Exam

For a female diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and recurrent urinary tract infections, which follow-up is most appropriate?

1. Immediate initiation of antibiotics

2. Urine culture to assess for current infection

3. Referral to a kidney specialist

4. Routine blood test for kidney function

The correct answer is: Urine culture to assess for current infection

The most appropriate follow-up for a female diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and recurrent urinary tract infections is to perform a urine culture to assess for a current infection. This step is essential because it allows for the identification of the specific pathogens causing the urinary tract infection (UTI) and ensures that the appropriate antibiotic treatment is administered based on culture sensitivity. Recurrent UTIs can occur in individuals with diabetes due to factors such as glucose in the urine and possible immune system impairment. By obtaining a urine culture, the healthcare provider can determine whether the patient currently has an active infection and which antibiotics would be most effective, which is particularly important given the risk of antibiotic resistance. Other options may not address the immediate need to confirm whether an infection is present and if so, how best to treat it. For instance, while referring to a kidney specialist may be relevant in complex cases of kidney involvement, it is not the first step in managing a recurrent UTI. Similarly, routine blood tests for kidney function, although useful for monitoring diabetic complications, do not provide immediate insight into the presence of a UTI. Immediate initiation of antibiotics without a culture risks using the wrong treatment and contributes to resistance issues. Therefore, assessing the current infection through a urine culture is a critical