Urinary Tract Infection

A urinary tract infection (UTI) is a bacterial infection that affects part of the urinary tract. Infections of the urethra, bladder, ureters, or the kidneys, which comprise the urinary tract. It is majority cause by bacteria E. coli...
Females have a higher risk for UTIs than most males, probably because of their anatomy; other risk factors for UTIs include any condition that may impede urine flow (e.g., enlarged prostate, congenital urinary tract abnormalities, and inflammation). Patients with catheters or those who undergo urinary surgery and men with enlarged prostates are at higher risk for UTIs.

Symptoms:

• Burning with urination
• Flank or back pain (kidney infection)/ pelvic pain
• Dark or bloody urine
• Fever
• Strong unpleasant smell of urine
• Urge to urinate frequently, often in small amounts
• Vomiting (common in children)

 Laboratory:

1. urinalysis
2. CBC (complete blood count)
3. blood cultures
4. intravenous pyelogram
5. CT Scan

Treatment:

• Antiiotics - IV, Ciprofloxacin; Metronidazole; Cotrimozaxole
• Beta-lactams, including penicillins and cephalosporins (for example, Amoxicillin, Augmentin, Keflex, Duricef, Ceftin, Lorabid, Rocephin, Cephalexin, Suprax, and others); many organisms have resistance to some of these drugs.
• Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole combination antibiotic (for example, Bactrim DS and Septra); many organisms may show resistance.
• Fluoroquinolones (for example, Cipro, Levaquin, and Floxacin) resistance is developing; also these should not be used in pregnancy or in the pediatric population.
• Tetracyclines (for example, tetracycline, doxycycline, or minocycline) used most often for Mycoplasma or Chlamydia infections; like fluoroquinolones, they should not be used in pregnancy or by the pediatric population.
• Aminoglycosides (for example, gentamycin, amikacin, and tobramycin) used usually in combination with other antibiotics to combat severe UTIs.
• Macrolides (for example, clarithromycin, azithromycin, and erythromycin), used more often with some STD-caused urinary problems.
• AZO or Uristat contain the medicine, phenazopyridine (Pyridium and Urogesic), which works in the bladder to relieve pain.  

Other Non-medical treatment:

• Increasing fluid intake: This may work by washing out organisms in the tract, making it more difficult for pathogens to adhere or stay in close proximity to human cells.
• Not delaying in emptying the bladder (urination): This has the same effects of increasing fluid intake and helps the bladder reduce the number of pathogens that may reach the bladder.
• Eating cranberries or blueberries or drinking their unsweetened juice: These berries contain antioxidants that may help the immune system, and some investigators suggest they contain compounds that reach the urine and reduce the adherence of pathogens to human cells.
• Drinking Buko Juice
• Eating pineapple: Pineapple contains bromelain that has anti-inflammatory properties that may reduce UTI symptoms.
• Taking vitamin C: Vitamin C may function to increase urine acidity to reduce bacterial growth.
• Using other methods: Yogurt, Echinacea, baking soda, Oregon grape root, and aromatherapy have had people claim effectiveness in treating UTIs, but the mechanisms are not clear.