Definitions

Question 1

What are the classic symptoms of UTI?

Answer 1

Dysuria
Frequency of micturition
Suprapubic tenderness
Urgency
Polyuria
Haematuria

Question 2

What is cystitis?

Answer 2

Inflammation of the bladder, which can be due to infection (bacterial cystitis) or other causes

Question 3

What is bacteriuria?

Answer 3

The presence of bacteria in urine

Note that the anterior urethra is not sterile and the presence of urine washed out during micturition is not bacteriuria

Question 4

What is pyuria?

Answer 4

The presence of pus cells (actually neutrophil polymorphs) in significant quantities in urine.

This represents an inflammatory response and is supportive evidence of the presence of a UTI

Question 5

What is sterile pyuria?

Answer 5

The clinical scenario in which urine is negative on culture but significant numbers of pus cells are present.

Question 6

What is acute pyelonephritis?

Answer 6

Infetion of the upper urinary tract involving the kidneys

Question 7

What is chronic pyelonephritis?

Answer 7

This is a pathological condition with renal scarring and potentially loss of renal function.

Infection may be a contricutory cause but the term does not necessarily imply ongoing infection.

Other factors which may contribute include diabetes, vesicle-ureteric reflux and urinary obstruction