Lower UTI Flashcards
Which structures do a lower UTI include?
urethra and bladder
Which structures do an upper UTI include?
ureter and kidney
What are common causes of lower UTI’s?
bacterial infections; common cause can also be normal flora in genitalia migrating to urethra, it can also arise from normal flora in the gut migrating to the urinary tract
A lesson common cause: microbes can enter from circulation (septicaemia)
Is a UTI more common in males or females? Explain why.
It is more common in women due to the anatomic proximity of the vagina to the anus
Which bacteria in particular does a lower UTI usually occur from?
E coli (which is in the gut flora in the GI tract)
What are the defense mechanisms that protect us from getting an UTI?
Washout; local immune response; mucin layer on the surface of the transitional epithelium; prostate fluid; periurethral normal flora in the vagina
Briefly explain the defense mechanism: mucin layer on the surface of the transitional epithelium.
- Secreted by cells that line the bladder
- composed of glycoproteins
- provides a barrier b/w epithelial lining and any bacteria that makes it into the bladder
What is one of the unique characteristic the periurethral normal flora in the vagina has and briefly explain.
Microbial antagonist (normal flora utilize resources and prevent establishment of invasive microbes)
Risks of a lower UTI?
- Catherization (iatrogenic)
- Obstruction of the urethra -> urine stasis of bladder and reflux of urine back into the bladder carrying microbes in (seen in BGH)
Manifestations of a lower UTI?
- acute onset
- lower back pain, abdominal pain
- frequency
- dysuria
Diagnostics of a lower UTI?
- clinical presentation and history
- urinalysis
- C&S (takes 2-3 days)
- dipstick
Treatment of a lower UTI?
- antibiotics
- fluids (helps with voiding urine, flushes bacteria out of urinary tract)
- address the underlying cause
