Summary: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are mainly caused by uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC). The therapy of uncomplicated and recurrent UTIs in primary outpatient healthcare is still based mainly on antibiotics, whose effectiveness is increasingly limited by the appearance of multidrug resistant (MDR) strains of bacteria. Approximately 50% of women will experience at least one episode of UTI in their lives, the most common being cystitis. In everyday medical practice a major problem is the choice of appropriate therapy, both for first-line treatment and for recurrent urinary tract infections. Careful and responsible antibiotic therapy is encouraged, and replacing it where possible with other forms of prophylaxis and treatment, along with diagnosing the reasons for its possible failure.