Urinary Tract Infections

Urinary tract infections occur frequently, effecting patients of all ages and have a variety of ways of making themselves known from non symptomatic bacteria found in the urine to severe life threatening infections.  Many infections can be managed easily by urine cultures in short term antibiotic therapy, complicated infections however, frequently demand sophisticated evaluation; radiological imaging, bacterial sensitivity testing, and thoughtful selection and administration of antibiotic therapy.

Most urinary tract infections have limited ability to make the patient sick and respond promptly to treatment. However, seemingly simple infection in high risk individuals such as children, pregnant women and patients with infection, stones or indwelling catheters can have a major deterioration upon kidney function. Infections caused by aggressive bacteria like protease or sudominis or infections in a patient who has diabetes or a urinary tract that is not functioning well such as (one that  has obstruction) these infections are frequently difficult to treat and associated with significant side effects. Identification and management of these patients at risk from urinary tract infection is very important.

It is estimated that 10-20% of women will experience bacterial infection of the urinary tract sometime during life.  2-5% of business for primary care prompted by symptoms of bacterial infection of the urine.  Many infections are accompanied by alarming discomfort and voiding symptoms yet the infecting organisms are generally confined to the bladder, most are susceptible to a variety of antibiotics and the risk of serious illness in an otherwise healthy woman is very small.  The diagnosis and treatment  of more extensive and potentially  life threatening infections resulting from bacteria  such as a kidney infection  or an abysses adjacent to the kidney called a perinephic abysses are not uncommon

Urinary tract infections is usually caused by gram negative aerobic bacteria and bacteria from the presence of large bowel content. E-Coli are responsible for approximately 75% of infections.  Careful investigations of women have shown that the vaginal bacteria, duration and density of colonization by enterobacteria are greater among women who are vulnerable to urinary tract infection compared to those who are resistant.  And local breakdown of resistance (or immunity) to vaginal bacterial colonization is thought to be true but has not been confirmed.

With the advent of scopes that can assess the anatomy of the lower urinary tract as well as x-ray image studies that tell about the condition of the upper urinary system it is very clear that the opportunity to eliminate or improve the process of developing urinary tract infection is available to urologists and their patients.

It is important that when an infection is recurring or the patient develops disability because of pain or illness because of fever Riverside Urology should be consulted and with our understanding of this problem the symptoms should clear and not recur or at least not very often.