Cystitis

Cystitis indicates inflammation of the urinary bladder. It can describe a change in the tissues as seen through a microscope or symptoms of bladder function caused by bacterial infection. These usually include having to empty the bladder frequently and discomfort when doing so, often accompanied by the urgent need to void. Non-bacterial symptoms of bladder irritation (cystitis) can be related to non bacterial causes such as radiation cystitis or sterile inflammatory  change to the bladder , interstitialcystitis.

Bacterial cystitis is much more common in women than men. About 4% of women experience it by young adulthood and about 10% of women experience it by age 50.   Recurrent lower urinary tract infection occurs with bacteria (in other words bacteria in the urine) and it is involvement of the vagina and the urethra lining proceeds the occurrence of the bacteria infecting the bladder.

Since the intestine is the reservoir of the most common bacteria that causes urinary tract infections, that being E.Coli there has been interest in knowing whether certain strains of E.Coli have a advantage over others in causing this disease. After careful study it is clear that certain types of E.Coli produce enzymes that make them more able to create urinary infection than those bacteria that don't have these characteristics.

The effective management of cystitis is antibiotic therapy provided that the sensitivity of the infecting bacteria to an antibiotic can be determined and that antibiotic can be used. It is also important to know that the function of the bladder and the urethra are normal. Antibiotics that can be used include: bactrim, ceptra, macrobid, keflex, floxin, cipro, noroxin, and ampycillin.

In summary, recurring lower urinary tract infections in women (recurring cystitis) require a urologic evaluation to determine that the anatomy of the lower urinary tract is normal and then  that not only is effective antibiotic used, but in many cases suppressive therapy is necessary.

When men develop cystitis and lower urinary tract bacterial infection the doctor is very suspicious that there is an anatomical problem with the urinary tract and careful evaluation including X-rays and viewing the bladder through the cystoscope is important in understanding the anatomic problem that makes the infection possible.  Riverside Urology  deals with the problem of cystitis and recurring cystitis in both men and women.  If you have symptoms of bladder irritation or evidence of infection in the bladder that has not responded to your primary care doctors initial antibiotic treatment, you should contact the urologist for study and management.