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Preventing recurrent urinary tract infections, Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections, Abington Urological Specialists:"Once the urinary tract has been thoroughly evaluated, measures can be instituted to prevent recurrent infections. Such measures include:
Increasing fluid intake.
Increasing frequency of bladder emptying.
Pelvic floor relaxation to allow for complete bladder emptying.
Replacement of estrogens in post-menopausal women.
Voiding after intercourse (in women).
Post-coital antibiotics (in women).
Prophylactic low dose antibiotics." ******************************************************
What is my risk of getting a urinary tract infection? American Academy of Family Physicians:"Urinary tract infections (also called "UTIs") are very common. Each year, more than 7 million doctor's office visits are made because of UTIs. A woman is eight times more likely to get a UTI than a man. The main risk factors for UTIs are the following:
Sexual activity.
Using a diaphragm and spermicide.
Not urinating often during the daytime.
Anatomic problems in the urinary tract." ******************************************************
Urinary Tract (Kidney and Bladder) Infections, Dr. Reddy's Pediatric Office on the Web:"How does an infection start?
The urinary tract can be infected from above (by bacteria entering the kidneys from the bloodstream and travelling downward) or from below (by bacteria entering the urethra and travelling upward).
Infection from above is most often seen in newborns with generalized infection or "sepsis". If there are many bacteria in the bloodstream, some are likely to get through the filters of the kidney to the urine. This is especially likely if the filters are immature, or if there are a lot of bacteria.
In older children and adults infection most often starts from below. In small children still using diapers, stool (which is largely bacteria) can sit for some time right at the meatus; the longer it sits there, the more likely it is that bacteria may enter the urethra. Baby boys are less likely to have this happens than baby girls, since girls' urethrae are so much shorter and the head of the penis isn't as likely to sit in stool. (Note, though, that bacteria can hang out in any moist, warm area, and that UTI's seem to happens more often in uncircumcised boys than in circumcised boys since bacteria can accumulate beneath the foreskin.) Older girls may become prone to UTI's through wiping back-to-front when they are first toilet-trained, which pulls stool into the vaginal/meatal area. Sexually active teenage and adult women are more prone to UTI's because of friction at the meatus, which tends to push bacteria into the urethra (urinating after intercourse helps avoid UTI's); the same mechanism may cause UTI's in teenage boys and adult men, although they are again less prone to UTI's than women of the same age." ******************************************************
How are UTIs diagnosed? Methodist Health Care System, Houston, Texas:"Diagnosing a urinary tract infection may involve a urinalysis test that allows your physician to examine your urine for bacteria and blood cells. Other diagnostic tests and procedures may include:
intravenous pyelogram (IVP) - an opaque dye is injected into the vein and x-rays are taken which visualize the bladder, kidneys, and ureters
cystoscopy - a flexible tube and a viewing device are inserted through the urethra in order to see the inside of the bladder
renal ultrasound - a transducer is passed over the kidneys, radiating sound waves that bounce off of the kidneys, transmitting a picture on a screen." ******************************************************
What are the causes of UTI? National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse:"Normal urine is sterile. It contains fluids, salts, and waste products, but it is free of bacteria, viruses, and fungi. An infection occurs when microorganisms, usually bacteria from the digestive tract, cling to the opening of the urethra and begin to multiply. Most infections arise from one type of bacteria, Escherichia coli (E. coli), which normally lives in the colon.
In most cases, bacteria first begin growing in the urethra. An infection limited to the urethra is called urethritis. From there bacteria often move on to the bladder, causing a bladder infection (cystitis). If the infection is not treated promptly, bacteria may then go up the ureters to infect the kidneys (pyelonephritis).
Microorganisms called Chlamydia and Mycoplasma may also cause UTIs in both men and women, but these infections tend to remain limited to the urethra and reproductive system. Unlike E. coli, Chlamydia and Mycoplasma may be sexually transmitted, and infections require treatment of both partners." ******************************************************
Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) – Patient Information, Pediatriconcall.com:"Q2) How does a child get a urinary infection?
A2) Majority of urinary infections occur due to entry of bacteria through urinary opening i.e. urethra (tube connecting the bladder to the opening outside on the body) which ascends to bladder, ureters (tube connecting the bladder to the kidney) and then kidneys. Unhygienic conditions around the genital region, diapers, pin worms, not cleaning the area after passing stools or bacterial diarrhea are some of the predisposing factors. In newborns and very small infants, bacteria enter the kidneys from blood circulation – blood borne infection." *********************************
Treatment of a URINARY TRACT INFECTION (UTI), RXinsider.com:"Prescription antibiotics are used to cure urinary tract infections and uncomplicated UTI's are simple for physicians to treat.
- If left untreated, urinary tract infections can spread, become very serious and may require hospitalization.
- Some prescription and non-prescription medications are used in the short-term relief of UTI symptoms. These medications are not antibiotics and only help with the temporary relief of symptoms (they do not cure the UTI infection itself). (Specific products may be recommended by a physician or pharmacist.)
- Drinking extra cranberry juice may be protective by possibly inhibiting unwanted bacterial growth.
General Information,
Gregory Cianfarani R.Ph ******************************************************
Call Your Doctor or Clinic If, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics:"You have a change in urinating, such as frequency, urgency, pain or burning.
You have bloody, cloudy, or foul-smelling urine.
You have a constant, nagging urge to urinate.
You have chills or fever over 100o.
You have lower abdominal pain or discomfort.
You have lower back pain or discomfort." ******************************************************
Causes and Risk Factors, urologychannel.com:"Escherichia coli (E. coli) causes about 80% of UTIs in adults. These bacteria are normally present in the colon and may enter the urethral opening from the skin around the anus and genitals. Women may be more susceptible to UTI because their urethral opening is near the source of bacteria (e.g., anus, vagina) and their urethra is shorter, providing bacteria easier access to the bladder. Other bacteria that cause urinary tract infections include Staphylococcus saprophyticus (5 to 15% of cases), Chlamydia trachomatis, and Mycoplasma hominis. Men and women infected with chlamydia trachomatis or mycoplasma hominis can transmit the bacteria to their partner during sexual intercourse, causing UTI." ******************************************************
What are the Symptoms of Urinary Tract Infections? WomensHealth@about.com:"Symptoms of UTI or bladder infection are not easy to miss and include a strong urge to urinate that cannot be delayed which is followed by a sharp pain or burning sensation in the urethra when the urine is released. Most often very little urine is released and the urine that is released may be tinged with blood. The urge to urinate recurs quickly and soreness may occur in the lower abdomen, back, or sides.
This cycle may repeat itself frequently during the day or night--most people urinate about six times a day, when the need to urinate occurs more often a bladder infection should be suspected.
When bacteria enters the ureters and spread to the kidneys, symptoms such as back pain, chills, fever, nausea, and vomiting may occur, as well as the previous symptoms of lower urinary tract infection.
Proper diagnosis is vital since these symptoms can also be caused by other problems such as infections of the vagina or vulva. Only your physician can make the distinction and make a correct diagnosis." ****************************************************** ****************************************************** ****************************************************** For Health Information you can use, Follow, Connect, Like us on (Most Invites Accepted): http://www.nursefriendly.com/social/: Twitter! http://www.nursefriendly.com/twitter Blogger: http://4nursing.blogspot.com Facebook: http://www.nursefriendly.com/facebook Linked In: http://www.linkedin.com/in/nursefriendly Nursing Entrepreneurs, Nurses In Business, http://nursingentrepreneurs.ning.com/ Posterous.com, http://nursefriendly.posterous.com StumbleUpon, http://www.nursefriendly.com/stumbleupon
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