Picture of the urinary tract

Urinary tract infections can be categorized as either simple or complicated.

• Simple UTIs occur in healthy people with normal urinary tracts. This is the type of UTI that occurs most frequently in women.
• Complicated UTIs occur in individuals with abnormal urinary tracts or when underlying medical conditions make treatment failure more likely. Men and children are more likely to have this type of UTI.

When bacteria enter into the urinary tract, this can result in an infection. Escherichia coli (E. coli) is the bacteria that causes the vast majority of UTIs. However, other bacterial pathogens can also cause UTIs. A urine culture can help isolate the bacteria responsible for a particular UTI.

Urinary tract infections are not considered to be contagious, and you can’t acquire a UTI from someone else.

Risk factors for developing urinary tract infections include the following:

• Wiping from back to front following a bowel movement, particularly in women, can introduce bacteria into the urethra.
• Sexual intercourse can push bacteria from the vaginal area into the urethra.
• Holding the urine too long: When someone holds it in, more bacteria have a chance to multiply, which can cause or worsen a UTI.
• Kidney stones can make it hard to empty the bladder completely, which can also lead to urine remaining in the bladder too long.
• Certain types of birth control devices (contraceptives), including diaphragms or condoms with spermicides
• Hormonal changes and changes in the vagina following menopause
• Using urinary catheters, which are small tubes inserted into the bladder to drain urine, can predispose someone to UTIs.
• Surgery of the genitourinary tract may introduce bacteria into the urinary tract, resulting in a UTI.
• Women tend to get UTIs more frequently than men because the urethra in women is shorter and located closer to the rectum.
• Use of douches
• Older adults
• Taking oral antibiotics
• Diabetes or other illness that compromise the immune system
• Urinary incontinence
• Spinal cord injuries
• Multiple sclerosis
• Parkinson’s disease
• Previous urinary tract infection
• Enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia [BPH])
• Structural abnormalities of the genitourinary tract
• Uncircumcised men

Symptoms and signs of a urinary tract infection include

• pain or burning when urinating (dysuria);
• frequent urination;
• sudden urge to urinate (bladder spasm);
• frequent or persistent urge to urinate without much urine passing when you go;
• sense of incomplete emptying of the bladder;
• loss of bladder control (urinary incontinence);
• a feeling of pressure or pain in the lower abdomen or pelvis;
• foul odor to the urine;
• urine that is milky, cloudy, reddish, or dark in color;
• blood in the urine;
• back pain, flank (side) pain, or groin pain;
• fever or chills;
• pain during sexual intercourse;
• fatigue;
• general feeling of being unwell (malaise);
• vaginal irritation; and
• in elderly patients, subtle symptoms such as altered mental status (confusion) or decreased activity may be signs of a UTI.

Vaginal itching is not a typical symptom of a UTI. It may be a sign of bacterial vaginosis or a vaginal yeast infection.

If one is experiencing fever or back pain, this may be a sign of a kidney infection (pyelonephritis), which can be a serious medical issue. Seek medical attention immediately.

• If one has a bladder infection, antibiotics are usually taken for three to seven days.
• If one has a kidney infection, antibiotics may be taken for up to two weeks. In certain cases, one may also require hospitalization and intravenous antibiotics.