Urinary Tract Infection & Pyelonephritis Flashcards
What is a urinary tract infection (UTI)?
Infection of the urinary tract most commonly caused by bacteria from patient’s own bowel flora that usually ascends the urethra.
UTI can be divided into lower and upper UTI.
i. Lower UTI = cystitis ; prostatitis
ii. Upper UTI = pyelonephritis (infection of kidney and renal pelvis)
Bacteriuria confirms UTI
Rarely, UTI from bloodstream or lymphatics infection
What are the common organisms to cause UTI?
Usually anaerobes and gram -ve bacteria from bowel and vagina flora
E. Coli
Staphylococcus epidermidis / Staphylococcus saprophytic (skin commensal)
Psuedomonas
Klebsiella
How well an organism adheres to the urothelium determines its virulence
What makes E.coli an ideal pathogen in UTI?
E. coli :
=> flagella for motility
=> haemolysis to form pores
=> fimbriae (adhesions that attach organisms to the perineum and urothelium)
=> aerobactin (to acquire iron)
What are the innate host defence mechanism?
- Neutrophil : activation of neutrophil essential for bacterial killing
- Urine osmolality and pH : very low or high pH reduce bacterial survival
- Complement : mucosal IgA production by uroepithelium important defence against UTI
- Commensal organisms : eradication of commensal organisms by spermicidal jelly or antibiotics = overgrowth of E.coli
- Urine flow : good urine flow and micturition wash out bacteria
=> urine stasis promotes UTI - Uroepithelium : cranberry and blueberry juice contain large molecular weight factor => prevents binding of E. coli to the uroepithelium
Who does it commonly affect?
Women because shorter urethra => 10-20% / year
Rarely men or children
> 65yrs men (10%) and women (20%) have asymptomatic bacteriuria
What are the risk factors for UTI?
Increased bacterial inoculation: => sexual activity => urinary incontinence => faecal incontinence => constipation
Increased binding of uropathogenic bacteria:
=> spermicide use
=> low oestrogen
=> menopause
Reduced urine flow:
=> dehydration
=> urinary tract obstruction
=> urinary stasis
Increased bacterial growth: => diabetes => immunosuppression => obstruction => stones => catheter => renal tract malformation => pregnancy
How is UTI classified?
UTI is classified into:
Uncomplicated: normal renal tract structure and function
Complicated: structural/functional abnormality of genitourinary e.g. obstruction, catheter, stones, neurogenic bladder, renal transplant
What are the symptoms of UTI (cystitis)?
Asymptomatic or:
Frequency day and night
Dysuria (painful voiding)
Urgency
Suprapubic pain & tenderness
Polyuria
Haematuria
Smelly urine
New confusion (can be the only symptom in elderly)
What are the symptoms of acute pyelonephritis?
Fever
Loin pain/tenderness
Rigor / Chills
Night sweats
Vomiting
Costo-vertebral pain
Associated cystitis symptoms
Septic shock
=> significant bacteriuria implying kidney infection
What are the symptoms of prostatitis?
Pain in perineum, rectum, scrotum, penis, bladder, lower back
Fever
Malaise
Nausea
Urinary symptoms
Swollen, tender prostate on digital rectal exam
What are the signs of UTI?
Fever
Abdominal or loin tenderness
Distended bladder
Enlarged prostate
How do you diagnose an uncomplicated UTI (cystitis) in a young non-pregnant women <65yrs?
Non-pregnant women:
=> If 3 or more symptoms or 1 severe symptom of cystitis present
=> No vaginal discharge
=> Then treat empirically without any further test
=> If fail to respond to treatment, do mid-stream urine culture
If less than 3 symptoms => do a dipstick
=> negative dipstick reduces likelihood of UTI
How do you diagnose an uncomplicated UTI (cystitis) in a pregnant women, men and children?
Mid stream urine culture
How do you diagnose a UTI in a systemically unwell patient?
Blood test: FBC, U&E, CRP and blood culture (+ve in 10-25% of pyelonephritis)
Imaging: ultrasound and referral to urology for cystoscopy, urodynamics and CT in :
=> men with upper UTI
=> failure to respond to treatment
=> recurrent UTI >2/year
=> pyelonephritis
=> unusual organism
=> persistent haematuria
What is the difference between relapsing UTI and re-infection with UTI?
Relapse: recurrence of bacteria with the same organism within 7 days of completion of antibacterial treatment.
=> treatment failure due to stones, scarred kidneys, polycystic disease or bacterial prostatitis
Re-infection: bacteriuria is absent after treatment for at least 14 days, followed by recurrence of infection with the same or different organism
=> this is not due to failure of treatment but re-infection
=> 80% of recurrent infection due to re-infection