Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)

What causes urinary tract infection?

Most urine infections occur when bacteria enter your bladder through your urethra (waterpipe).

Risk factors for developing a urinary tract infection include:

• sexual intercourse

• incomplete bladder emptying

• kidney stones

• poorly-draining or misshapen kidneys

• foreign bodies and catheters

What are the symptoms of a urinary tract infection?

Symptoms can vary from very mild to severe, depending on whether the infection is confined to your bladder (cystitis) or has affected your kidney(s) as well (pyelonephritis). Common symptoms include smelly urine, frequency and/or urgency of urination, burning pain when passing urine, bloodstained urine and pain in the lower abdomen.  

How is a urinary infection diagnosed?

A mid-stream sample of your urine is analysed initially using a “dipstick” technique for an instantaneous result and then a more thorough microbiological test to look for bacteria in your urine sample, which takes 48 hrs to be analysed.

Will I need further tests?

A single episode of cystitis in a woman that settles quickly on treatment, does not usually need any further investigation. Recurrent bladder and kidney infections in women should be investigated. Investigations may include blood and urine tests, scans (ultrasound or CT) of the bladder and kidneys, urine flow tests and cystoscopy (camera examination of the bladder)

How will my urinary infection be treated?

Bladder infection (cystitis) usually responds rapidly to a short course of antibiotics, but kidney infection (pyelonephritis) may require a longer course of treatment. In severe infections, where you are unwell with severe dehydration, sickness or inability to keep down any fluids by mouth, hospital treatment with antibiotics by injection may be necessary. 

What is the treatment for recurrent infections?

• Cranberry tablets

  • Natural therapy that acidifies the urine and may prevent bacteria from sticking to the bladder lining.

• Hiprex / Vitamin C

  • Urinary antiseptic which when taken with Vit C can help acidify urine and fight bacteria in the bladder urine

• Low-dose vaginal oestrogens

  • Weekly use of an oestrogen cream or tablet, placed into the vagina, can help reduce the number of infections suffered by some women after the menopause.

• D-mannose

  • This is a well tolerated alternative therapy that you can buy over the counter at health food shops or via the internet. Small studies have suggested that taking two grams each day can help prevent urine infection to a similar degree to low-dose antibiotics

• Antibiotic prophylaxis

  • When other treatments fail, taking a low dose of an antibiotic does help prevent further infections. Sometimes multiple antibiotics are used in a cycling manner to reduce the risk of bacterial resistance.

• Intravesical treatments

  • Agents / antibiotics put directly into your bladder through a small catheter (e.g. IAluril) 

What else can I do to prevent urinary tract infections in the future?

The most important and effective measures are lifestyle changes, including:

• drinking enough fluid to keep your urine clear or light;

• stop smoking and maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle

• passing urine as soon as possible after sexual intercourse;

• avoiding strong soaps in the bath;

• maintaining good genital hygiene; and

• avoiding constipation.