A urinary tract infection (UTI) is a common type of infection that occurs in the urinary tract. UTI is associated with the multiplication of the organism in the urinary tract and is defined by the presence of more than one million organisms per ml in a midstream sample of urine.
Classification
Lower UTIs
Infection of the lower part of the urinary tract
- Acute cystitis
- Acute urethritis
- Acute prostatitis
Upper UTIs
Infection of the upper part of the urinary tract.
- Subclinical pyelonephritis
- Acute pyelonephritis
- Chronic pyelonephritis
- Renal cortical abscess
- Perirenal abscess
Uncomplicated
- Anatomically and physiologically normal urinary tract
- Normal renal function
- No associated disorder which impairs the defence mechanism
Complicated
- Abnormal urinary tract
- Impaired renal function
- Associated disorders
Causes
Anatomical
- Short urethra(females)
- Sexual intercourse
- Renal calculi
- Vesical fistula
- Incomplete voiding
- Diverticulum
- Vesicoureteric reflex
- Obstruction
- Damaged urothelium
- Instrumentation
- Indwelling catheter
- Surgery
Functional
- Incomplete voiding
- Neurogenic
- Physiological
- Recent infections
Abnormal urinary tract
- Neurological abnormality
- Chronic prostatitis
- Cystic kidney
- Analgesic nephropathy
- Renal scarring
Associated disorders
- Diabetes mellitus
- Immuno-suppressive therapy
Symptoms and signs
Lower UTI
- Cloudy offensive urine
- Dysuria
- Frequency
- Haematuria
- Loin pain
- Lower abdominal pain
- Malaise
- Nocturia
- Strangury
- Suprapubic pain
- Urgency
Upper UTI
- Anorexia
- Diarrhoea
- Fever with chills and rigours
- Loin pain
- Nausea
- Septicaemia
- Vomiting
Investigations
- Urine analysis
- Urine culture
- Total blood count
- Blood culture
- CT scan- abdomen
- Intravenous pyelogram (IVP)
- Kidney scan
- Kidney ultrasound
- Voiding cystourethrogram
Treatment
- The underlying abnormality must be corrected.
- Medicines
Complications
- Sepsis
- Kidney damage or scarring
Prevention of urinary tract infection
- Maintain hygiene during menstrual period
- As a general rule, do not use any product containing perfumes in the genital area.
- Take shower baths
- Urinate before and after sexual activity.
- Wipe from front to back after using the washroom
- Wear cotton-cloth underwear and pantyhose, and change both at least once a day.
- Drink lots of non-alcoholic fluids(preferably plain water)
- Use estrogen cream in the vagina area post menopause to reduce the chance of further infections.