Objectives. To assess the adherence of GPs to evidence-based guidelines for the diagnosis and management of lower urinary tract infection (UTI) in women. Methods. A cross-sectional study was performed from March to July 2009 in primary care offices. Physicians consecutively registered the first six UTI attended during an 8-week period. Age, days with symptoms, episode of infection, associated morbidity, signs and symptoms, diagnostic procedures performed, antibiotic prescription, allergies and

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... eferral or not were registered. The type of antibiotic course (short or long) and first-choice treatments were also taken into account. Results. Of 176 physicians invited to participate, 110 (62.5%) included 658 women with lower UTI. Urine dipstick was performed in 550 cases (83.6%) and urine culture was requested in 235 women (35.7%), with criteria for culture in 49.6% and without criteria in 32.8%. Antibiotic treatment was administered in 634 cases (96.4%). Short courses were given to 385 women (60.7%) and 75 of those with complicated UTI were treated with long courses (66.4%). First-choice antibiotics were administered as empiric treatment in only 92 women with uncomplicated UTI (17.7%). Conclusions. These results highlight the poor adherence of GPs to the current recommendations of clinical practice guidelines with a high number of inappropriate urine cultures requested and a low utilization of first-choice antibiotics.