Side Effect: Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)

What is Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)?

A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection caused by bacteria that affects any part of the urinary system, including the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra.
UTIs (pronounced ‘you-tee-eyes’) are common, and they can cause discomfort and serious health complications if left untreated.
A urine sample may reveal the cause of a UTI. For example, the results of a urine analysis (UA), may show signs of pyuria (white blood cells in the urine), bacteriuria (bacteria in the urine), nitrites (a by-product of bacteria), and/or hematuria (blood in the urine), which are all associated with infection.
While a UTI can inform doctors that an infection may be present, a urine culture can help identify the specific bacteria causing the infection and guide appropriate treatment.

What does a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) feel like?

Symptoms of a UTI can vary but commonly include:

pain or burning during urination
frequent urination
a strong urge to urinate

UTIs can also cause lower back or abdominal pain or discomfort, cloudy or foul-smelling urine, and sometimes fever or chills. These may be signs of a more serious infection and should prompt the person to seek urgent medical attention.

Who gets Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)?

Patients being treated with radiation to the pelvic area, chemotherapy, or other medications that can suppress or lower the immune system, are at a greater risk of developing UTI.

Other risk factors include:

using bladder catheters
having diabetes, or uncontrolled blood sugar
being sexually active (some UTIs are caused by sexually-transmitted disease)
being assigned female at birth (because women have a shorter urethra, it is easier for bacteria to travel to the bladder)
In men, having an inflamed prostate.

How do you Prevent Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)?

To prevent UTIs it is recommended that:

you drink plenty of fluids
urinate regularly
wipe from front to back after bowel movements
take showers instead of baths
avoid using irritating feminine hygiene products.

Bacteria prefer moist environments, so keeping the genital area dry by wearing cotton underwear and loose-fitting clothes may also help.
If you catheterize yourself, make sure to use a good technique so as to not introduce an infection.

How do you Treat Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)?

Treatment of UTIs generally involves appropriate antibiotics and management of any underlying conditions that may contribute to the infection.

Close monitoring and follow-up are essential to ensure complete resolution of the infection and prevent recurrence.

References

1) Roberts RG, Hartlaub PP. Evaluation of dysuria in men. Am Fam Physician. 1999 Sep 1;60(3):865-72.

2) Seo SK, Liu C, Dadwal SS. Infectious Disease Complications in Patients with Cancer. Crit Care Clin. 2021 Jan;37(1):69-84.

3) Cravens DD, Zweig S. Urinary catheter management. Am Fam Physician. 2000 Jan 15;61(2):369-76.

Created: April 10, 2024 Updated: April 10, 2024