Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)

What is a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)?

A Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) is a common infection of your urinary tract. This includes the urethra, bladder and kidneys.

Urine is made by the kidneys as a waste product of the blood filtering process. It consists of waste and excess water. If bacteria enter the urinary system, then it can cause a UTI.

UTIs are very common and they usually affect more women than men.

What causes UTIs?

UTIs are usually caused by bacteria, typically E. coli. They happen when the bacteria enter the urinary system via the urethra. They affect women more than men because women have a shorter urethra, and it is located closer to the anus, where E. coli are commonly found.

What are the symptoms of a UTI?

A UTI causes the lining of the urinary tract to become inflamed, which can lead to:

• Pain in lower abdomen, back or pelvic area
• Pain when you pee
• Frequent urination
• Blood in your pee
• Cloudy or foul smelling pee.

Other symptoms associated with UTIs include:

• Fever
• Nausea
• Chills
• Feeling very tired.

How is a UTI diagnosed?

Your doctor will ask you questions about any symptoms, look at your medical history and perform a physical exam. A test may also be ordered to confirm a diagnosis. Tests include:

• Urinalysis: A sample of urine is sent to a laboratory for testing. It will be tested for things like nitrites, white blood cells and leukocyte esterase.
• Urine culture: A sample of pee will be tested to grow culture and identify the type bacteria present, so the right type of treatment can be given.

If a UTI doesn’t respond to treatment, other tests may be ordered to check for signs of injury or disease. These may include ultrasound, computed tomography (CT) scan and cystoscopy (a thin instrument with a lens that is inserted into the bladder).

How is a UTI treated?

If you are diagnosed with a UTI, you will be given a course of antibiotics to take. The type of antibiotics prescribed will depend on the bacteria that is causing the infection.

If you have recurrent UTIs then you may be given a low-dose course of antibiotics to take.

Can UTIs be prevented?

There are several lifestyle changes that may help to prevent UTIs. These include:

• Drinking lots of water
• Peeing frequently
• Peeing immediately before and after having sex
• Avoiding tight fitting clothing
• Only wearing cotton underwear.

Are UTIs and cystitis the same?