Urinary Tract Infections Flashcards
Define bacteriuria.
Presence of bacteria in the urine.
Not always symptomatic (esp. in elderly)
Define cystitis.
Inflammation of bladder, often caused by infection.
What is an uncomplicated urinary tract infection?
Infection in a structurally + neurologically normal urinary tract.
What is a complicated urinary tract infection?
Infection in a urinary tract with functional or structural abnormalities (inc. pregnancy, indwelling catheters + calculi).
Summarise the epidemiology of UTIs.
Prevalence of bacteriuria in young nonpregnant women is 1-3%.
Up to 40% to 50% of females will experience a symptomatic UTI during their life.
What is the most common causative organism of acute UTIs? What feature allows for this?
E. Coli
Virulence factors allow them to ascend epithelium of urinary tract + evade host defences.
Other than E coli, name 5 organisms that can cause UTIs? What are they associated with?
Proteus mirabilis: affinity for those with calculi
Klebsiella aerogenes: catheterised (adhere to plastic)
Enterococcus faecalis
Staphylococcus saprophyticus: VF allow ascent, young healthy women
Staphylococcus epidermis: instrumentation, prosthetic material
What is the pathophysiology of recurrent urinary tract infections?
In recurrent UTIs esp. in presence of structural abnormalities, the relative frequency of infection caused by Proteus, Pseudomonas, Klebsiella, + Enterobacter species and by enterococci + staphylococci increases greatly.
What are antibacterial host defences in the urinary tract?
Urine: Osmolality, pH, organic acids
Urine flow + micturition: flushes out
Urinary tract mucosa: Bactericidal activity, cytokines
What is the pathophysiology of ascending UTI?
Urethra is usually colonized with bacteria.
Female urethra is short + is in proximity to warm moist vulvar + perianal areas, making contamination likely.
Organisms that cause UTI in women colonize the vaginal introitus + periurethral area before urinary infection results.
Once within the bladder, bacteria may multiply + pass up ureters, esp. if vesicoureteral reflux is present, to the renal pelvis + parenchyma
How can renal tract abnormalities contribute to UTIs?
Obstruction inhibits flushing out, resulting stasis allows bacteria to multiply + cause infection
Catheter enables ascent without VF for adherence to urinary epithelium
What are the extra renal mechanical causes of obstruction?
Valves, stenosis, or bands
Calculi
Extrinsic ureteral compression from a variety of causes e.g. gravid uterus
Benign prostatic hypertrophy
What are neurogenic malfunctions which can lead to obstruction?
Diabetic neuropathy
Spinal cord injuries
Poliomyelitis
Tabes dorsalis
How can Vesicoureteral reflux contribute to UTIs?
Perpetuates infection by maintaining a residual pool of infected urine in the bladder after voiding.
What is the haematogenous route and how does it contribute to UTIs?
Kidney is frequently the site of abscesses in patients with S. aureus bacteremia or endocarditis or both
In humans, infection of the kidney with gram -ve bacilli rarely occurs by the hematogenous route.
What are symptoms of UTIs in infants < 2y?
Nonspecific:
Failure to thrive
Vomiting
Fever
What are symptoms of UTIs in children over 2 years?
More likely to display localized Sx:
Frequency/ “accidents”
Dysuria
Abdominal or flank pain
What are symptoms of lower UTI?
Frequent + painful urination of small amounts of turbid urine.
+/- suprapubic heaviness or pain.
+/- bloody urine or shows a bloody tinge at end of micturition.
Fever usually absent in infection limited to lower tract.
What are symptoms of upper UTI?
Fever (+/- rigors)
Flank pain
+/- lower tract Sx: frequency, urgency, + dysuria
(sometimes antedate fever + upper tract Sx 1-2d)
What symptoms may present in upper tract infections in older people?
Atypical:
Abdo pain
Change in mental status: confusion, off legs
What are appropriate investigations for an uncomplicated UTI?
Urine dipstick
MSU for urine microscopy, culture + sensitivities
Bloods: FBC, UE, CRP (inflammatory markers + renal function)
How should catheterised patients with no systemic features and a positive MC+S be treated?
Nothing, bacteriuria is common in catheterised patients
What are methods of sampling?
Midstream clean catch (MSU): preferred
Catheterisation.
Suprapubic aspiration.
What is this, and what is it a sign of?
White cells pyuria
Indicative of infection