American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Certification Practice Exam

What is the most likely time frame for 50% of women experiencing recurrence after UTI prophylaxis?

1. 3 months

2. 6 months

3. 9 months

4. 12 months

The correct answer is: 3 months

The most likely time frame for 50% of women experiencing recurrence after starting UTI prophylaxis is commonly observed to be around 3 months. This timeframe is influenced by several factors, including the underlying causes of recurrent UTIs, the effectiveness of the prophylactic treatment, and individual patient factors. Studies have shown that while prophylaxis helps reduce the frequency of UTIs, a significant proportion of women may experience recurrence within the first few months after discontinuation of prophylactic therapy. The recurrence rate tends to be quite high in the initial months, tapering off as time progresses, which underscores the importance of understanding the patient’s baseline risk and the potential need for continued evaluation and management beyond the initial phase of therapy. In this context, other time frames presented in the question, such as 6 months, 9 months, or 12 months, typically lie outside the point at which the majority of recurrences after prophylaxis are noted. These longer time frames might capture eventual recurrences but do not reflect the most common or significant time frame where the likelihood of recurrence is highest following initiation of prophylactic treatment.