Urinary Tract Infections


(inc. cystitis, pyelonephritis)

  • 6% sexually active women get UTIs

Definition

  • >105 colony forming units per ml

  • in male >100 CFU/ml may be relevant

Symptoms

  • frequency
  • urgency
  • dysuria
  • nocturia
  • haematuria
  • small volume voiding
  • suprapubic / lower abdominal pain
  • fever - if present may indicate solid organ involvement so manage aggressively
  • septic shock

Very different presentation in children

Source

  • ascending infection
  • haematogenous
  • lymphatic

Associated factors

  • indwelling catheters
  • urolithiasis
  • impaired bladder function
  • bladder outlet obstruction
  • vesicoureteral reflux

Organisms

  • gram negative enteric bacteria
    • E. coli (85% community acquired infections)
    • Enterobacter
    • Proteus - leads to staghorn calculi
    • Klebsiella - associated with stone, indwelling catheters
    • Pseudomonas
    • Enterococcus
  • Gram positive organisms
  • Atypical

Management (uncomplicated)

  • history
  • examination
  • urinalysis
  • culture

Differential diagnosis

  • sexually transmitted diseases
  • vaginitis
  • trauma / sexual abuse
  • urothelial tumor
  • retained foreign bodies
  • overactive bladder

Treatment (3-7 days)

Recurrent infections

  • causes
    • drug resistance
    • reinfection
    • bacterial persistence
    • underdosing
    • non-compliance
  • Image to ensure no other complicating pathology

Complicated urinary tract infections

 

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