Urinary tract infection

A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an <a href="/facts/Infection/182XrncP">infection</a> that affects a part of the <a href="/facts/Urinary_tract/CJxvtE0S">urinary tract</a>. Lower urinary tract infections may involve the <a href="/facts/Bladder/g8Khaf7A">bladder</a> (cystitis) or <a href="/facts/Urethra/THkvxu0d">urethra</a> (<a href="/facts/Urethritis/7obdqoEf">urethritis</a>) while upper urinary tract infections affect the <a href="/facts/Kidney/HBspPrv9">kidney</a> (<a href="/facts/Pyelonephritis/HTygNzaa">pyelonephritis</a>). Symptoms from a lower urinary tract infection include <a href="/facts/Suprapubic/8cH36U82">suprapubic</a> pain, painful urination (<a href="/facts/Dysuria/uEu7GfMv">dysuria</a>), frequency and urgency of urination despite having an empty bladder. Symptoms of a kidney infection, on the other hand, are more systemic and include <a href="/facts/Fever/waVxR2Ac">fever</a> or <a href="/facts/Abdominal_pain/aF6gPB0G">flank pain</a> usually in addition to the symptoms of a lower UTI. Rarely, the urine may appear <a href="/facts/Hematuria/KSAMIxvK">bloody</a>. Symptoms may be vague or non-specific at the extremities of age (i.e. in patients who are very young or old).
The most common cause of infection is <a href="/facts/Escherichia_coli/nR4Gvl56">Escherichia coli</a>, though other <a href="/facts/Bacteria/wC8xSCsU">bacteria</a> or <a href="/facts/Fungi/BHo5DP59">fungi</a> may sometimes be the cause. Risk factors include female anatomy, sexual intercourse, <a href="/facts/Diabetes_mellitus/2xeHXbsI">diabetes</a>, <a href="/facts/Obesity/RBF9y5Vl">obesity</a>, catheterisation, and family history. Although sexual intercourse is a risk factor, UTIs are not classified as <a href="/facts/Sexually_transmitted_infection/IYL1rxdI">sexually transmitted infections</a> (STIs). <a href="/facts/Pyelonephritis/HTygNzaa">Pyelonephritis</a> usually occurs due to an ascending bladder infection but may also result from a <a href="/facts/Bacteremia/J0C082Sg">blood-borne bacterial infection</a>. 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 fails, a <a href="/facts/Urine_culture/KIDQCfJn">urine culture</a> may be useful.
In uncomplicated cases, UTIs are treated with a short course of <a href="/facts/Antibiotic/sF1kIfxg">antibiotics</a> such as <a href="/facts/Nitrofurantoin/AQv42cqM">nitrofurantoin</a> or <a href="/facts/Trimethoprim%2fsulfamethoxazole/dcYzn4mR">trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole</a>. <a href="/facts/Antibiotic_resistance/jsbAywgx">Resistance</a> to many of the antibiotics used to treat this condition is increasing. In complicated cases, a longer course or <a href="/facts/Intravenous/AwwuD3Nu">intravenous</a> antibiotics may be needed. If symptoms do not improve in two or three days, further diagnostic testing may be needed. <a href="/facts/Phenazopyridine/rcUeBsAg">Phenazopyridine</a> may help with symptoms. In those who have bacteria or white blood cells in their urine but have no symptoms, antibiotics are generally not needed, unless they are pregnant. In those with frequent infections, a short course of antibiotics may be taken as soon as symptoms begin or long-term antibiotics may be used as a preventive measure.
About 150 million people develop a urinary tract infection in a given year. They are more common in women than men, but similar between anatomies while carrying <a href="/facts/Foley_catheter/0gxfBeQe">indwelling catheters</a>. In women, they are the most common form of bacterial infection. Up to 10% of women have a urinary tract infection in a given year, and half of women have at least one infection at some point in their lifetime. They occur most frequently between the ages of 16 and 35 years. Recurrences are common. Urinary tract infections have been described since ancient times with the first documented description in the <a href="/facts/Ebers_Papyrus/7KWeHwXs">Ebers Papyrus</a> dated to c. 1550 BC.

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Urinary tract infection