A review of recent advances in the treatment of adults with complicated urinary tract infection

Introduction Complicated urinary tract infections (cUTIs) entail diverse clinical conditions that could be managed differently and not necessarily with premature empiric therapy. Since multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) are widely spreading worldwide, the possibility of encountering these resistant bacteria is inevitably part of the daily life of physicians who manage cUTIs. Areas covered The advances in the management of cUTIs are explored, illustrating: 1) a proposed therapeutical approach to cUTIs within the antimicrobial stewardship context; 2) evidence regarding novel antibiotics targeting MDROs. Evidence research has been performed through MEDLINE/PubMed using appropriate keywords and terms regarding cUTIs published before June 2022. Expert opinion Novel antimicrobial drugs are available in the clinicians' armamentarium. Selecting the optimal therapy for suitable patients may be challenging given the multifaceted group of cUTIs. Carbapenems use is widely increasing, the role of old beta-lactam/beta-lactamase inhibitors is constantly revised, and novel drugs lack real-life studies. Understanding the different ranges of the complexity of patients affected by cUTIs may help select the most suitable antibiotic for every single case. More multicentric observational studies targeting cUTIs are needed to elucidate the appropriate drug based on patient characteristics and presentations, providing stronger recommendations for cases encountered in everyday clinical practice.