Urinary Tract Infection

Could adaptable bacteria cause repeat urinary tract infections?

(HealthDay)—Women suffering from recurring urinary tract infections may carry a particularly hearty strain of E. coli bacteria that flourishes in both the gut and the bladder, and can migrate back and forth ...

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created May 09, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0 | with audio podcast

ER visits for urinary tract infections add almost $4 billion a year in unnecessary costs

Giving patients better access to primary health care could save nearly $4 billion a year in unnecessary emergency room visits for a single common complaint – urinary tract infections – according to a study by the Vattikuti ...

Health created May 06, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Bacteria may contribute to premature births, STDs

(Medical Xpress)—New research at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis points to a common species of bacteria as an important contributor to bacterial vaginosis, a condition linked to preterm ...

Medical research created Apr 23, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Nearly half of older women diagnosed with UTI not confirmed in urine culture

Older adults represent an important and growing demographic in emergency departments (ED) across the country, with urinary tract infections (UTIs) being one of the leading causes for ED visits. In fact, UTIs, which can progress ...

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created Apr 22, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Currently approved drugs found effective in laboratory mice against bioterror threats

In the most extensive screen of its kind, Texas Biomed scientists in San Antonio have demonstrated the feasibility of repurposing already-approved drugs for use against highly pathogenic bacteria and viruses. The pathogens ...

Medical research created Apr 09, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Urinary tract infections 29 times more likely in schizophrenia relapse

Schizophrenia patients experiencing relapse are 29 times more likely than healthy individuals to have a urinary tract infection, researchers report.

Psychology & Psychiatry created Apr 03, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

US OKs first-of-its-kind diabetes drug (Update)

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday approved a first-of-its-kind diabetes drug from Johnson & Johnson that uses a new method to lower blood sugar—flushing it out in patients' urine.

Medications created Mar 29, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Michigan hospitals national leaders in preventing common and costly urinary tract infections

Patients at Michigan hospitals are less likely to experience a urinary tract infection caused by a catheter than at other hospitals in the country, according to a new study by the University of Michigan.

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created Mar 25, 2013 | popularity 4 / 5 (1) | comments 0

China, India travel boosts risk of antibiotic resistant cystitis

Experts have warned of the growing risk of travellers to India, China and South East Asia bringing home E.coli infections that are immune to treatment with a normal course of antibiotic tablets.

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created Mar 18, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

CWRU spinoff ConservoCare gets licensing options to develop medical device for bladder control

ConservoCare, LLC, a spinoff of research at Case Western Reserve University, has obtained license options through the university's Technology Transfer Office to develop a medical device for bladder control.

Other created Mar 15, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

New study on UTIs suggests flagellin is key in stimulating body's natural defences

A new study by British scientists reveals that motile Escherichia coli isolates demonstrated significant activation of NF-κB signaling suggesting that flagellin plays a key role in up-regulating the host innate defences agains ...

Medical research created Mar 15, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 0

Study uncovers new cells in the urethra which may detect hazardous substances

A recent study conducted by a group of German scientists revealed the presence of a previously unknown cell in the urethra of mice. These chemosensory cholinergic brush cells are in close contact to sensory neurons that express ...

Medical research created Mar 15, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Antibiotic-resistant strain of E. coli increasing among older adults and residents of nursing homes

Antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli (E. coli) continues to proliferate, driven largely by expansion of a strain of E. coli know as sequence type ST131. A new study points to hospitals and long-term care facilities (LTC ...

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created Mar 12, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Study shows mirabegron effective and well tolerated for overactive bladder

In a new phase III trial mirabegron, a β3-adrenoceptor agonist, given once daily for 12 weeks, reduced the frequency of incontinence episodes and number of daily urinations, and improved urgency and nocturia in adults with ...

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created Mar 04, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

How much will I be charged? Study examines patient bills for top 10 visits to the emergency room

It's a basic, reasonable question: How much will this cost me? For patients in the emergency room, the answer all too often is a mystery.

Health created Feb 27, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 1 | with audio podcast


A urinary tract infection (UTI) is a bacterial infection that affects part of the urinary tract. When it affects the lower urinary tract it is known as a simple cystitis (a bladder infection) and when it affect the upper urinary tract it is known as pyelonephritis (a kidney infection). Symptoms from a lower urinary tract include painful urination and either frequent urination or urge to urinate (or both), while those of pyelonephritis include fever and flank pain in addition to the symptoms of a lower UTI. In the elderly and the very young, symptoms may be vague. The main causal agent of both types is Escherichia coli, however other bacteria, viruses or fungus may rarely be the cause.

Urinary tract infections occur more commonly in women than men, with half of women having at least one infection at some point in their lives. Recurrences are common. Risk factors include female anatomy, sexual intercourse and family history. Pyelonephritis, if it occurs, usually follows a bladder infection but may also result from a blood borne infection. Diagnosis in young healthy women can be based on symptoms alone. In those with vague symptoms, diagnosis can be difficult because bacteria may be present without there being an infection. In complicated cases or if treatment has failed, a urine culture may be useful. In those with frequent infections, low dose antibiotics may be taken as a preventative measure.

In uncomplicated cases, urinary tract infections are easily treated with a short course of antibiotics, although resistance to many of the antibiotics used to treat this condition is increasing. In complicated cases, longer course or intravenous antibiotics may be needed, and if symptoms have not improved in two or three days, further diagnostic testing is needed. In women, urinary tract infections are the most common form of bacterial infection with 10% developing urinary tract infections yearly.

This text uses material from Wikipedia and is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.

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