Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)

     A Urinary Tract Infection (UTI or Acute Cystitis or Bladder Infection) is an infection in any part of your urinary system i.e. your kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. When it affects the lower urinary tract it is known as a simple cystitis (bladder infection) and when it affects the upper urinary tract it is known as pyelonephritis (kidney infection). Most infections involve the lower urinary tract — the bladder and the urethra. Urinary tract infections occur more commonly in women than men, with half of women having at least one infection at some point in their lives. Recurrences are common. Risk factors include female anatomy, sexual intercourse and family history.

Risk Factors

- Being female

- Being sexually active

- Completing menopause

- Having blockages in the urinary tract

- Using certain types of birth control

- Using a catheter to urinate

- Having a suppressed immune system

Causes

1. E. coli is the cause of 80–85% of urinary tract infections, with Staphylococcus saprophyticus being the cause in 5–10%.

2. Rarely they may be due to viral or fungal infections.

3. Other bacterial causes include: Klebsiella, Proteus, Pseudomonas, and Enterobacter.

Signs and Symptoms

Urinary tract infections don't always cause signs and symptoms, but when they do they may include:

1. A strong, persistent urge to urinate

2. A burning sensation when urinating

3. Passing frequent, small amounts of urine

4. Urine that appears cloudy

5. Urine that appears red, bright pink or cola-colored — a sign of blood in the urine

6. Strong-smelling urine

7. Pelvic pain, in women

8. Rectal pain, in men.

 UTIs may be overlooked or mistaken for other conditions in older adults.

Tests and Diagnosis

1. Analyzing a urine sample

2. Growing urinary tract bacteria in a lab

3. Creating images of your urinary tract

4. Using a scope to see inside your bladder

Treatments and Drugs

A. Simple infection :

- Sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (Bactrim, Septra, others)

- Amoxicillin (Amoxil, Augmentin, others)

- Ciprofloxacin (Cipro)

- Nitrofurantoin (Furadantin, Macrodantin, others)

- Levofloxacin (Levaquin)

B. Frequent infections :

- Longer course of antibiotic treatment or a program with short courses of antibiotics at the start of your urinary symptoms

- Home urine tests, in which you dip a test stick into a urine sample, to check for infection

- A single dose of antibiotic after sexual intercourse if your infections are related to sexual activity

- Vaginal estrogen therapy if you're postmenopausal, to minimize your chance of recurrent UTIs

C. Severe infection

- For a severe UTI, you may need treatment with intravenous antibiotics in a hospital.

Prevention

1. Drink plenty of liquids, especially water

2. Wipe from front to back

3. Empty your bladder soon after intercourse

4. Avoid potentially irritating feminine products.