1. INTRODUCTION
1.1. Aim and objectives
This overview represents the updated European Association of Urology (EAU) Guidelines for Urological Infections. The aim is to provide practical recommendations for the prevention and treatment of urinary tract infections (UTIs) and male accessory gland infections. These Guidelines also aim to address the important public health aspects of infection control and antimicrobial stewardship. Separate EAU guidelines are available addressing paediatric urological infections [1] and infections in patients with neurological urinary tract dysfunction [2].
It must be emphasised that clinical guidelines present the best evidence available to the experts, but following guideline recommendations will not necessarily result in the best outcome. Guidelines can never replace clinical expertise when making treatment decisions for individual patients but rather help to focus decisions also taking personal values and references/individual circumstances of patients into account. Guidelines are not mandates and do not purport to be a legal standard of care.
1.2. Panel composition
The EAU Guidelines Panel on Urological Infections consists of an international multidisciplinary group of urologists with particular expertise in this area, as well as an infectious disease specialist and a clinical microbiologist. All experts involved in the production of this document have submitted potential conflict of interest statements, which can be viewed on the EAU website: http://uroweb.org/guideline/urological-infections/.
1.3. Available publications
A quick reference document, the Pocket Guidelines, is available online and in print. This is an abridged version, which may require consultation together with the full text version. Several scientific publications are also available. All documents are accessible through the EAU website: http://uroweb.org/guideline/urological-infections/. An EAU Guidelines app for iOS and Android devices is also available, containing the Pocket Guidelines, interactive algorithms and calculators, clinical decision support tools, guidelines cheat sheets, and links to the extended guidelines.
1.4. Publication history
The Urological Infections Guidelines were first published in 2001. This 2026 document presents a limited update of the 2025 publication.
1.4.1. Summary of changes
For the 2026 Urological Infections Guidelines, new and relevant evidence was identified, collated and appraised through a structured assessment of the literature for Sections 3.17 and 3.18.2.h. This resulted in the inclusion of 36 additional studies across the Guidelines. Key changes include:
- Update of the recommendations in Section 3.4.3.d, Summary of evidence and recommendations for the diagnostic evaluation of cystitis.
- Update of the recommendations in Section 3.4.4.d, Summary of evidence and recommendations for antimicrobial therapy for cystitis.
- Addition of a new section on the diagnosis and treatment of fungal urinary tract infections: Section 3.17, Fungal urinary tract infection.
- Update of the evidence and recommendations on periprocedural antibiotic prophylaxis for prostate biopsy in Section 3.18.3, Summary of evidence and recommendations for periprocedural antibiotic prophylaxis.
- Review and update of antibiotic dosages, where appropriate.