The urinary tract includes the kidneys, bladder, ureters, and urethra. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are far more common in women than men. Urinary tract infections have different names depending on which part of the urinary tract is infected.
Among newborns, UTIs are more common in boys, but by one year of age, they are 2 to 4 times more likely to occur in girls. The rate of infection is higher for sexually active women (between 16 and 35 years old) than for men.
As many as 50% to 60% of North American women have had at least one UTI in their lifetime. Among seniors, the gender difference in infection rates diminishes, but rates of infection in seniors living at home or in care facilities or hospitals remains high.
Women are more likely to get UTIs than men. That’s because women have a shorter urethra (the tube that carries urine out of the bladder) that’s closer to the rectum. This allows bacteria easier access to a woman’s urinary tract. After urinating, wiping from the back to the front pushes bacteria from the rectal area towards the urethra, which can lead to a UTI.
Sexual intercourse increases the risk for UTIs because bacteria are spread upward into the bladder. Using diaphragms and spermicides can also increase the risk for UTIs because the normal bacteria around the urethra may be changed, making infection more likely. Women who are pregnant or have diabetes have been reported to have higher rates of UTIs when compared to women who are not pregnant and do not have diabetes.
In addition to bladder infections, men may get infections of the prostate (prostatitis). In fact, bacteria from the prostate can lead to recurrent UTIs in men. For infants and children, UTIs can be associated with particularly narrow urinary tracts, or with a condition where the urine is pushed back up into the kidneys.
In seniors, UTIs are often due to problems with incomplete bladder emptying or bowel incontinence. Conditions that prevent complete emptying of the bladder include urinary tract blockages (especially enlargement of the prostate in men), kidney stones, neurologic diseases (such as stroke or spinal cord injury), certain medications, and having an inserted catheter ( in the case of hospitalized patients).
On very rare occasions, UTIs can be caused by bacteria that have spread from infections elsewhere in the body.
Seniors with asymptomatic bacteriuria usually don’t require treatment.
For most UTIs, 3 days to a week of antibiotics taken by mouth are the best treatment. Your doctor will help decide how long treatment should last. Before beginning any treatment, make sure that you discuss with your doctor any allergies you may have, previous antibiotic use within the last 3 months, and current prescription and non-prescription medications you are taking.
To prevent the infection from returning, it’s important to take all of your medication until the end of the prescribed period. Your doctor may also suggest certain medications that relieve pain to help ease the burning that occurs when you urinate.
Very serious infections – such as a severe kidney infection – may require an intravenous drip of antibiotics. Aside from standard antibiotic treatment, children with UTIs may be checked for urinary tract abnormalities.
Treatment for prostatitis often lasts for 4 to 6 weeks. If the infection returns after that, long-term antibiotic therapy may be an option.
In women, recurring UTIs are usually caused by new bacterial infections. Recurrent UTIs are defined as having 3 or more UTIs within one year (or 2 or more in 6 months). In such cases, your doctor may recommend preventative medication to be taken daily or after sexual intercourse. During pregnancy, women are routinely screened for bacteria in their urine. Prompt treatment of UTIs is important. Up to a third of untreated cases lead to kidney infections, which can cause premature labour and low birth-weight babies.
Some strategies for preventing UTIs are:
While waiting for the antibiotics to take effect, drink plenty of fluids to ease your discomfort, but avoid anything that can irritate the bladder, such as coffee, alcohol, soft drinks with caffeine, citrus juices, and spicy foods, until the infection has cleared.
All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2026. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/condition/getcondition/Urinary-Tract-Infections
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