UTIs Flashcards
Routes of Infection UTIs
Ascending: Bacterial pathogens enter the urinary tract from the bowel reservoir via ascent through the urethra into the bladder
Haematogenous: Infection of the urinary tract, especially the kidneys, by organisms originating in the bloodstream
Lymphatic: Direct extention of bacteria from the adjacent organs via lymphatics. Usually rare, but can occur in unusual circumstances, such as severe bowel infection/abscesses
Uncomplicated UTI
– Infection in a healthy patient with a structurally and functionally normal urinary tract
– Majority of patients are women with cystitis, or those with acute pyelonephritis
– Organisms are usually susceptible to antimicrobial therapies
Recurrent UTIs
Infection that occurs after documented successful resolution of an infection
- Bacterial persistence(relapse):UTI caused by the same bacteria that reemerge from a focus within the urinary tract (from an infectious stone [calculus/calculi], or prostate infection). Infections usually occur at close intervals
- Reinfection: Recurrent infections caused by new (different) bacteria and occur at varying and sometimes long intervals
Complicated UTIs
– Associated with factors that increase the chances of acquiring bacteria and decrease the efficacy of antimicrobial therapies. In this case, the urinary tract is functionally and structurally abnormal
– Majority of cases are men
– Organisms are usually resistant to one or more antimicrobial therapies
Risk factors for UTIs
1. Reduced Urine Flow
- Outflow obstruction, prostatic hyperplasia, prostatic carcinoma, urethral stricture, foreign body (calculus)
- Neurogenic bladder
- Inadequate fluid uptake (dehydration)
2. Promote Colonisation
- Sexual activity – increased inoculation Spermicide – increased binding
- Estrogen depletion – increased binding
- Antimicrobial agents – decreased indigenous flora
Facilitate Ascent
- *Catheterisation
- Urinary incontinence
- Faecal incontinence
- Residual urine with ischemia of bladder wall
Factors suggesting complicated UTIs
- Functional or anatomic abnormality of urinary tract Male gender
- *Pregnancy
- Elderly patient
- *Diabetes
- Immunosuppression
- Childhood UTI
- Recent antimicrobial agent use
- *Indwelling urinary catheter
- Urinary tract instrumentation
- Hospital-acquired infection
- Symptoms for more than 7 days at presentation
Types of lower urinary tract infections
- Urethritis
- Cystitis
- Prostatitis
Types of upper urinary tract infections
- Ureteritis
- Pyelonephritis
Cystitis
Superficial infection of the bladder mucosa
Cystitis symptoms
- Dysuria
- Frequency and/or urgency » Suprapubic tenderness
- Haematuria
- Nocturia
- Cloudy,foul-smellingurine
- Fever and chills are not usually present
Cystitis diagnosis
Microscopic urinalysis, which usually indicates pyuria, bacteriuria, and haematuria
*Urine culture remains definitive test; presence of ≥ 108 bacteria/L usually indicates infection
Cystitis ddx
- Volvovaginitis
- Urethritis
Volvovaginitis
- Dysuria subacute in onset;
- Vaginal discharge or odor; fluid shows presence of inflammatory cells
- Frequency, urgency, haematuria, and suprapubic pain are usually not present
- History reveals new or multiple sexual partners
- Common microbial causes include, Chlamydia, Gonorrhoeae, Trichomoniasis, and yeast infections
Urethritis
- Dysuria is subacute in onset and is associated with urethral discharge with inflammatory cells
- History reveals new or multiple sexual partners
- Common microbial causes of urethritis include, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia, Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV), and Trichomoniasis
- Less pronounced frequency/urgency than that associated with acute cystitis
Pyelonephritis
Inflammation of the kidney and renal pelvis