American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Certification Practice Exam

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $2.99 payment

Study for the ABIM Certification Exam. Use flashcards and multiple choice questions, with hints and explanations for each. Get ready to succeed!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.

What is the typical duration of prophylaxis for recurrent UTIs?

3 months
6 months
1 year
2 years

The correct answer is: 6 months

The typical duration of prophylaxis for recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) is generally around 6 months. This duration is often recommended to provide sufficient time to evaluate the effectiveness of prophylactic treatment in preventing further infections. During this period, patients can also be monitored for any side effects from the medications and assessed for adherence to the prophylaxis regimen. Shorter durations, such as 3 months, may not provide enough time for patients to establish the benefits of the prophylactic therapy or for the healthcare provider to gather sufficient data to make informed decisions regarding long-term management. Longer durations, like 1 year or 2 years, may be considered in specific cases, typically involving patients with a strong history of recurrent UTIs or those who have not responded to other management strategies, but they are not the standard approach for the initial treatment of prophylaxis. In summary, a 6-month duration is a balanced approach that allows for effective prevention while also enabling proper monitoring and adjustment of care as needed.