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A Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) is an infection in any part of your Urinary Tract — your kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra.

A Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) is an infection in any part of your Urinary Tract — your kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. Most infections involve the lower urinary tract — the bladder and the urethra. Bacteria are responsible for the vast majority of UTIs. Fungi can also cause UTIs occasionally (especially in immunocompromised people). UTIs are the second most common type of infection in humans.

Women are at greater risk than men of developing a UTI. It can involve the urethra (urethritis), bladder (cystitis), or kidneys (pyelonephritis). UTIs in men are not as common as in women but can be serious when they occur.

When the kidneys are involved, UTIs can be life-threatening. The bacterium Escherichia coli (E. coli) causes the vast majority of UTIs.

Risk Factors & Causes

Anything that delays, hinders or reduces bladder emptying, or cause irritation of the urinary tract can lead to UTIs. Most common of which are:

Obstructions – Any blockage that impedes urine flow and emptying of the bladder can cause a UTI (e.g. enlarged prostate, kidney stones, and malignancies).

Gender – Women are more common to contract UTI; this is most likely due to their shorter urethra.

Bathroom Hygiene – Unclean toilet seats (e.g. use of public/shared toilets) can also be responsible for bacterial transmission. Also wiping from back to front after defecation may lead to UTI. This motion may drag bacteria from the anal area towards the urethra.

Diaphragms – Diaphragms may exert continuous pressure on the urethra, which eventually can lead to delayed/decreased bladder emptying. Studies have detected a higher UTI risk in women who use diaphragms.

Diabetes – Because of its negative impact on the body’s immunity, Diabetes may make patients more susceptible to UTI.

Prolonged use of Bladder Catheters – Catheters are used when someone cannot urinate normally (e.g. chronic prostatic enlargement, neurogenic bladder, postoperative state, etc.). Long-term catheter use can increase the risk of UTI. They may make it easier for bacteria to get into the bladder. Management of catheter-associated UTI may necessitate catheter removal.

Spinal Cord Injuries – People with nerves damage around the bladder have difficulty emptying their bladder completely, allowing bacteria to grow in the urine that stagnates in the bladder.

Recurrent Infections

It is not uncommon for women to suffer from frequent UTIs. About 20 % of young women with a first UTI will suffer a recurrent infection. With each UTI, the risk for a recurrent UTIs rises.

Men are less likely than women to have a UTI. But once a man has a UTI, he may be at increased risk for a recurrent infection because some pathogenic bacteria may hide deep inside prostate tissue. Diabetic patients or people with a problem that makes it hard to urinate may have recurrent infections.

If the antibiotic course prescribed according to the result of Urine Culture & Antibiotic Sensitivity test was not completed successfully this may lead to the recurrence of symptoms as not all assailant bacteria were irradiated.

Symptoms

These may include:

Burning sensation associating urination (with an early stream, mid-stream or by the end of act).

Passing frequent, yet small amounts of urine.

A strong, persistent urge to urinate.

Cloudy urine with a strong smell. Occasionally dark in case of presence of blood in the urine.

Pelvic pain or discomfort.

Sometimes the symptoms are so mild or non-existent despite the presence of a UTI.

If the infection involves elder women and men, they are more likely to be tired, unstable, with body aches and abdominal pain.

Usually, UTIs do not cause fever if they are in the urethra tract or bladder. Presence of fever and chills may be an indication that the infection has reached the kidneys “Pyelonephritis”. This is considered a serious medical condition that necessitates intense and urgent medical attention.

Diagnosis

To find out whether a person has a UTI, your Urologist will inquire about urinary symptoms, proceed for a clinical examination and then request for a urine analysis test in search for the presence of bacteria and/or abnormally-high white blood cells.

The patient will be expected to give a “clean-catch” urine sample by washing the genital area then collecting a “midstream” sample of urine in a sterile container. This collection method helps prevent bacteria around the genital area from getting into the sample and resulting in a biased result.

To identify the causative bacteria and the best antibiotic to prescribe against, a urine culture and sensitivity tests are requested along with the microscopic analysis.

In the case of recurrent infection, your Urologist might advise a series of specialized investigations to detect a possible cause (for example, strictures). Some of these include:

Renal Ultrasound.

Intravenous Pyelogram (IVP).

Cystoscopy, which uses a small camera to examine the bladder.

CT scan.

Treatment

Antibiotics are used to treat UTIs.

Lower UTIs can be treated with oral antibiotics. Upper UTIs require intravenous antibiotics.

The choice of antibiotic and course of treatment depend on the patient’s history, the severity of symptoms, and the type of bacteria causing the infection (according to urine culture result).

Most young people with UTIs have uncomplicated UTIs, which can respond well to prescribed antibiotic with gradual regression of symptoms with few days. However, taking the full course of antibiotic is imperative because symptoms may disappear before the infection is fully cleared.

A follow-up urine analysis is recommended to confirm that the urinary tract is infection-free, days after the end of the antibiotic course.

Severely-ill patients with kidney infections must be hospitalized, with proper urological care and intravenous antibiotics.

Kidney infections may necessitate weeks of antibiotic treatment.

How can recurrent UTI’s be prevented?

Changing some routine habits may help a person be less susceptible to recurrent UTIs:

Fluid Intake – Increased hydration; drinking lots of water can help flush bacteria from the system. Drinking six to eight glasses of water daily is advised.

Urination Habits – A person should urinate often and when the urge arises; do not hold urine for long periods of time. Bacteria can grow when urine stays in the bladder too long. Women and men should urinate shortly after intercourse to flush away bacteria that might have entered the urethra during the intimate act.

Clothing – Cotton underwear and loose-fitting garments are always advisable. Cotton allows aeration of the area and minimizes moisture. Tight-fitting pants and polyester underwear should be avoided because they can trap moisture and this may facilitate bacterial growth.

Valuable Note

While the above prophylactic steps are useful, they do not guarantee that you won’t get a UTI.

Contact your Urologist whenever you have any symptoms.

UTIs are most treatable and with no lasting complications. Nevertheless, neglecting taking medical advice early can give the infection the golden opportunity to infiltrate more into your urinary tract and lead to more serious outcomes.