URINARY TRACT INFECTION
What is a Urinary Tract Infection
A Urinary Tract Infection, or UTI, is an infection that affects the urinary tract (kidneys, ureters, bladder, or urethra). Urinary tract infections (UTIs) account for about 8.3 million doctor visits each year.* UTI’s are caused by microorganisms, usually bacteria.
Risk Factors
Certain people are more likely to get UTI’s. Women are especially prone to UTIs with one in five developing a UTI during her lifetime.* This is because of the female anatomy. Women are more likely to get a lower UTI than men because the female urethra is shorter and is very close to the vagina and anus.
In addition, the following risk factors increase the chances of getting a UTI:
- Pregnancy
- Menopause
- Diabetes
- Kidney stones
- Sexual intercourse
- Prostate inflammation or enlargement
- Narrowed urethra
- Not drinking enough fluids
- Bowel incontinence
- Catherization
Signs and Symptoms
Not everyone with a UTI has symptoms, but most people get at least some symptoms. These may include a frequent urge to urinate and a painful, burning feeling during urination. It is common for a person with a urinary infection to complain that, despite the urge to urinate; only a small amount of urine is passed. The urine itself may look milky or cloudy, even reddish if blood is present. Some patients also experience fever and pain in the lower back, on their side, or in the groin.
Testing
If you have symptoms of a urinary infection, contact your doctor promptly. If your doctor suspects you have a UTI, your doctor will test a sample of urine for pus and bacteria. A urinalysis, sometimes followed by a urine culture, can reveal whether you have an infection.
Treatment
If your symptoms are typical, antibiotics are the first line of treatment for most UTIs. The choice of drug and length of treatment depends on your health condition and the bacteria found in your urine tests. Usually, UTI symptoms clear up within a few days of treatment, but you need to continue antibiotics for a week or more. It is important to take the full course of antibiotics because symptoms may disappear before the infection is fully cleared.
Prevention
- Drink plenty of water every day.
- Urinate when you feel the need; don't resist the urge to urinate.
- Wipe from front to back to prevent bacteria around the anus from entering the vagina or urethra.
- Take showers instead of tub baths.
- Urinate after sexual intercourse.
- Avoid using feminine hygiene sprays and scented douches, which may irritate the urethra.
Resource: *Ambulatory Care Visits to Physician Offices, Hospital Outpatient Departments, and Emergency Departments: United States, 1999–2000.
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