Urinary Tract Infections Flashcards
what causes most urinary tract infections?
bacteria
what are the requirements for a urinary tract infection?
uropathogenic bacteria in sufficient numbers
epithelial receptors
flagella
iron scavenging system
breakdown in normal host defense mechanisms
what in the urethra protects against urinary tract infections?
length, width, location
high-pressure zone
peristalsis
what are some anatomic structures that help to protect against upper urinary tract infections?
vesicoureteral valves
ureteral peristalsis
length of ureters
true/false: there is a normal flora/microbiome in the urinary tract that helps to protect against urinary tract infections
true
what are some antimicrobial properties of urine?
highly acidic and alkaline environment
high urine osmolality- especially cats
high concentration of urea and weak organic acids
Tamm-Horsfall mucoprotein
prostatic secretions
what does Tamm-Horsfall mucoprotein do?
impairs adhesion to uropathogenic E. coli to epithelial cells
bacteriostatic
what does activation of toll-like receptors on luminal surface of bladder epithelium produce?
IL-8
neutrophil chemoattractant
what are some contributing factors to urinary tract infections?
abnormal micturition
urinary catheters
what are some anatomic defects that can make an animal predisposed to urinary tract infections?
vesicoureteral reflux
ectopic ureters
ureterocele
urachal diverticulum/remnant
excessive perivulvar skin folds
damage to uroepithelium
what are some things that can cause immunosuppression or change in urine that can predispose to urinary tract infections?
renal failure
diabetes mellitus
hyperadrenocorticism
FeLV/FIV
chemotherapy
in cats, who is more likely to have a UTI?
older cats due to concurrent disease
what are some organisms that can cause urinary tract infections?
E. coli
Staphylococcus pseudointermidus
Enterococcus
Proteus
Steptococcus
Pseudomonus
Klebsiella
how prevalent are urinary tract infections in horses?
uncommon
what organisms are known to cause urinary tract infections in cattle?
Corynebacterium renale
E. coli
Trueperella
when should you avoid a cystocentesis?
if there is a risk of a transitional cell carcinoma
how should you confirm if you think you see cocci?
gram stain or wright stain
when is it difficult to identify a urinary tract infection?
small bacteria
low numbers of bacteria
can have contamination if got feces in urine sample
what are some fungi that can cause a urinary tract infection?
candida
cryptococcus
aspergillus
_____________ may be used to demonstrate the characteristic capsule of Cryptococcus?
india ink prep
what is cystitis?
inflammation of the bladder
what is urethritis?
inflammation of the urethra
what are the signs of upper urinary tract disease?
depression, anorexia
fever
vomiting
other signs of uremia
lumbar or abdominal pain
diary cattle: decreased milk
weight loss, pu/pd
azotemia
neutrophilia
what are the classifications for urinary tract infections?
sporadic
recurrent
subclinical bacteriuria
how do you diagnose sporadic bacterial cystitis?
lower urinary tract signs
concurrent urinalysis abnormalities
urinalysis to detect comorbidities
aerobic culture, especially in cats
what can cause relapsing urinary tract infection?
wrong antibiotic or dose or duration of therapy
lack of owner compliance
concurrent GI disease or decreased renal concentrating ability
failure to eliminate predisposing factors
what are some acute pathologic changes with lower urinary tract infection?
bladder thickened
focal hemorrhages, erosions, ulcerations
+/- emphysema
exudate or blood clots