Consensus definitions aim to clarify infectious urinary disease

A new consensus effort is trying to clean up one of small-animal medicine’s messier vocabularies: infectious urinary tract disease. In a 2026 modified Delphi study published ahead of print in the Journal of Small Animal Practice, J. Scott Weese and colleagues reported agreement on 29 standardized terms and definitions, plus one set of cut-off values, after four rounds of review involving experts and stakeholders. Scott Weese also highlighted the work on the Worms & Germs blog, arguing that inconsistent use of broad labels like “UTI” has made case discussions, research interpretation, and guideline development harder than they need to be. (researchprofiles.ku.dk)

Why it matters: For veterinary teams, this is more than a wording update. Standardized terminology can sharpen communication across general practice, referral, laboratories, and research, and it aligns with a long-running push in companion-animal antimicrobial stewardship to distinguish true infection from bacteriuria, contamination, or noninfectious lower urinary tract disease. That distinction is especially important in cats, where most lower urinary tract signs are not caused by bacterial infection, and in both species, where urine culture and clinical context matter more than shorthand labels. (researchprofiles.ku.dk)

What to watch: Watch for these definitions to show up in future ISCAID urinary guidance, journal submissions, and continuing education as the field moves toward more consistent diagnosis, reporting, and antibiotic decision-making. (wormsandgermsblog.com)