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Causes of a Urinary
Tract Infection
Within the human body
large numbers of bacteria live in the skin and within your rectum.
At times bacteria may get into the urine from the
urethra and travel
into your bladder. Sexual intercourse can also increase the frequency of
UTIs.
You are also more
likely to get a UTI if your
urinary tract has an abnormality such as
an obstruction from an enlarged
prostate (either
benign or
cancer)
or scar tissue.
Diabetes also puts
people at higher risk for
UTIs either because of a decrease in
immune function or weakening of the
bladder muscle.
Symptoms of a Urinary
Tract Infection
With a
Urinary tract infections
(UTIs) the lining of the
bladder and
urethra become red and
irritated. It is this irritation that causes pain in your abdomen
and pelvic area. The most common complaint is a constant feeling of
a
need to empty your
bladder (frequency). You may even try to urinate but only
produce a few drops and/or feel some burning as your urine comes
out. Patients with UTIs also report an unpleasant urine smell and
cloudy urine. In severe infections, you might have blood in
your urine.
Kidney infections
often cause fevers and back pain. These
infections need to be
treated promptly because a
Kidney infection can quickly spread into
the bloodstream and cause a life-threatening condition.
Diagnosing a Urinary
Tract Infection
At
Pacific Coast
Urology Medical Center we diagnose a
UTI by doing a routine
urinalysis and/or urine culture. A sample of urine is examined under
a microscope by looking for indications of infection — bacteria or
white blood cells in the urine.
Urinary tract infections are usually referred to as simple or
complicated.
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Simple infections occur in healthy urinary tracts and do not
spread to other parts of the body. They usually go away readily
with treatment.
-
Complicated infections are caused by anatomic abnormalities,
spread to other parts of the body, are worsened by underlying
medical conditions, or are resistant to many antibiotics. They
are more difficult to cure.
If you are having
fevers and ongoing symptoms despite treatment, you may need further
tests. Dr. Pugach can advise you if an ultrasound or CT scan is
needed to further to assess the urinary tract.
Important Note:
Contact your doctor or Dr. Pugach if you find blood in the urine.
Blood may be caused by a
UTI but it may also be from a different
problem in the
urinary tract.
Treatment of Urinary
Tract Infections
Dr. Pugach normally
treats a simple UTI with a course of oral antibiotics. A few doses
of the prescribed antibiotics
often relieves you of the pain or urge
to urinate frequently. It is important to take the full recommended
course of medication even if all symptoms have been relieved.
Dr. Pugach
cautions that unless
urinary tract infections are fully treated, they can frequently
return.
Lower urinary tract infection (cystitis)
In an otherwise healthy young female, a three-day course of
antibiotics is usually enough. Some providers prefer a seven-day
course of antibiotics. Occasionally, a single dose of an antibiotic
is used. Adult females with potential for or early involvement of
the kidneys, urinary tract abnormalities, or diabetes are typically
given a five- to seven-day course of antibiotics. Dr.robert Pugach will
determine which of these options is best for you.
Caution: Do not take another person’s antibiotic.
As another example of
the thorough care we provide to our patients,
Dr. Pugach will often
recommend some simple tests after your infection has been treated to
determine the cause of your
UTI so that it can be prevented from
re-occurring.
Precautions
There are some easy
steps you can use to avoid
UTIs.
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Drink plenty of
fluids to keep well hydrated.
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Do not hold your
urine and delay.
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Do not rush when urinating.
-
Holding in urine and not emptying your
bladder completely can
increase your risk of
UTIs.
If you have a question about a
service or procedure, please email us or call our
office
at (888) 735-4336.
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