Escherichia Coli (type of bacteria) from the gut is the main cause of 80-85 % of community acquired urinary tract infections. Females get infected more often because the bacteria it is carried from the rectum to the vagina and enters the urethra (the tube that carries out urine from the bladder). Females are more prone to urinary tract infections because the length of the urethra is very short. That means, the path that the bacteria has to pass from the urethra to the bladder and to cause cystitis (inflammation of the bladder) is shorter in comparison with males and because of that gives recurrent infections. People with specific genes, diabetes, sexually active women, women taking birth control pills or having kidney stones and people with suppressed immune system are at higher risk of getting this kind of infections. Escherichia Coli can also cause infection of the ureters (tube that carries urine to the kidneys) and/or the kidneys. The symptoms are caused by the host response to the infection and local inflammation of the tissue.
What are the symptoms of acute urinary tract infection?
Urinary tract infections might be asymptomatic and not show any symptoms, but when they do they may include burning sensation when urinating,persistent urge to urinate, changed color of the urine such as cloudy (because of presence of cells, proteins) or red, bright pink or cola-colored (sign of blood in the urine), smelling urine and pelvic pain.
Tests and procedures used to diagnose urinary tract infections include analyzing a urine sample to check if there are white blood cells, red blood cells, bacteria or proteins. Another test used for diagnose is urine culture, ultrasound of the urinary tract and cystoscopy (thin tube is inserted inside the urethra or bladder) for clear image of what is causing the recurrent infections inside the urinary tract.
Prevention of UTI in women
In order to prevent the recurrent urinary tract infections, make sure you follow these simple rules. When you wipe after going to toilet always clean yourself from front to back, and never hold your pee in, if you feel the urge to go, drink plenty of fluids and instead of taking a bath, take showers. If you use a bath tub, always use not perfumed bubble bath without soap or talcum powder. Always wear loose cotton underwear, not tight or synthetic one and don’t wear tight pants.
If you suffer from recurrent urinary tract infections try not to use condoms or diaphragms with spermicidal lube on them.
Having this condition might lead to bacteria that will become resistant to antibiotics especially if the whole course of treatment is interrupted few times. Patients should correctly use the prescribed antibiotics and most importantly take whole course of treatment to prevent the bacterial resistance. The overuse of antibiotics can also provoke the same condition. Common prescribed antibiotics are Trimethoprim/Sulfamethoxazole,Nitrofurantoin,Cephalexin,Ceftriaxone and for more complicated infections group of antibiotic medicines known as fluoroquinolones (Cirpofloxacin, Levofloxacin) are recommended. If you suffer from recurrent urinary infections, make sure you follow all the rules mentioned above and try adding natural remedies such as cranberry juice or tablets and probiotic called lactobacillus. If you need medical help consult your GP for advice and further medical examination if needed.
*Urinary TractInfection Molecular Mechanisms and Clinical TranslationGabriela Godaly,* Ines Ambite, Manoj Puthia, Aftab Nadeem, James Ho, Karoly Nagy, Yujing Huang, Gustav Rydström, and Catharina Svanborg*Urinary tract infections 'resistant to antibiotics'Ho PL, Wong RC, Lo SW et al.*Genetic identity of aminoglycoside-resistance genes in Escherichia coli isolates from human and animal sourcesJournalof Medical Microbiology 59 (2010), 702-707Dr.Irena Mehandjiska ShumanskaLanguages: English, German, MacedonianDr Mehandjiska studied her doctor’s degree at St. Cyril and Methodius University, in Macedonia, graduating 2013. She is experienced in health screenings, and neurological status. She has been dealing with Emergencies and is continuously training First Aid Skills for people. Teaching experience she also has from Medical High School where she has been teaching several subjects. Being worked at and Ophthalmological Department, eye examination is one of her strengths. Before joining the Beijing International Medical Center she worked at Oasis International Hospital Beijing as a Family Medicine Doctor.北京國際醫療中心（IMC-BEIJING）成立於1993年4月，是經國家衛生部批准的首家涉外醫療機構，提供專業的全科醫療服務。中心位於北京東北三環商貿中心地帶，毗鄰凱賓斯基飯店、第二使館區。在過去的20多年裡，由于堅守「尊重患者隱私和尊嚴」的承諾，為各國駐華使館、國際學校、企業高管、高端人士提供溫馨舒適的專業化醫療服務，而成為他們最信賴的醫療機構之一。International Medical Center-Beijing was established in 1993, which is the first approved expatriate medical provider in Beijing. IMC provides comprehensive medical services like Family Medicine, Surgery, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Ob/Gyn, TCM, ENT and so on. Our commitment to maintain the highest standards in medical care is a major reason our patients and their families choose us.——在北京國際醫療中心可以接受來自國內外知名專家們的會診與治療。