Urinary Tract Infections Flashcards
urinary tract infections (UTIs) - overview
*UTIs are the most common infection encountered in the outpatient setting
*common problem in hospitalized patients, particularly those with urinary catheters
*clinical manifestations differ based on affected portion of urinary tract
*treatment regimen differs based on anatomic location of infection
bacteriuria - defined
*bacteria in the urine, > 10^5 organisms per milliliter
pyuria - defined
- > 10 WBCs per high power field
cystitis - defined
*inflammation of the bladder
complicated UTI - defined
*anatomic, functional, or pharmacologic factors that predispose the patient to persistent infection, recurrent infection, or treatment failure
CA-UTI - defined
*catheter-associated UTI
pyelonephritis - defined
*inflammation of the kidneys
prostatitis - defined
*inflammation of the prostate
pathogenesis of UTIs
*most commonly, bacteria cause infection by ascending the urinary system (95% of the time)
*in some cases, bacteria (esp. Staph aureus) can cause infection hematogenously (bloodstream infection causing a UTI; check blood cultures if S. aureus grows in urine)
bacterial factors contributing to the pathogenesis of UTIs: increased bacterial adherence to uroepithelial cells
*mediated via fimbria (aka pili)
*2 important types in E. coli:
-Type 1 fimbriae
-P fimbriae
E. coli bacterial factor: Type-1 Fimbriae
*mannose-sensitive
*adhere to mannosylated proteins on uroepithelial cells
*can be detached by exposure to mannose
*bacterial tropism for BLADDER (cystitis)
E. coli bacterial factor: P fimbriae
*mannose-resistant
*adhere to glycophospholipids embedded in outer surface of plasma membrane of uroepithelial cells
*tropism for upper urinary tract (PYELONEPHRITIS)
bacterial factors contributing to the pathogenesis of UTIs: resistance to serum cidal activity
*allows the bacteria to evade normal host defences
bacterial factors contributing to the pathogenesis of UTIs: hemolysin production
*hemolysin is a cell toxin
*important in pyelonephritis
bacterial factors contributing to the pathogenesis of UTIs: ability to synthesize essential amino acids
*guanine, arginine, and glutamine required for bacterial growth in urine
bacterial factors contributing to the pathogenesis of UTIs: urease production
*Proteus mirabilis
*important in pyelonephritis and urolithiasis
*associated with STRUVITE stones and staghorn calculi
bacterial factors contributing to the pathogenesis of UTIs: bacterial motility
*ascend against urine flow
bacterial factors contributing to the pathogenesis of UTIs: endotoxin production
*decreases ureteral peristalsis, allowing bacteria to ascend
host factors that prevent UTIs
*urine: inhibits bacterial growth
-high urea concentration
-low pH
*mechanical flow: flushes out urinary tract
*urethra (longer urethra is protective)