Urinary tract infections

Urinary tract infection

  • Infection of bladder, ureter, kidney (via renal pelvis)
  • NB. Urethral infection is considered a STD

 

 

Predisposition

  1. Anatomy
    • Female anatomy: proximity of urethra to anus
    • Congenital abnormalities affecting flow: ectopic vesicae, ureteric duplication, urethral valves, congenital stricture, VUJ reflux
  2. Urine stasis
    • Mechanical obstruction: hydronephrosis, stricture, stone, neurogenic bladder, prostatic hypertrophy
    • Prostatic enlargement
  3. Instrumentation
    • Indwelling catheters
  4. Systemic disease
    • Diabetes
    • Immune deficiencies

Organisms

  • Enterococci: E.coli, proteus, pseudomonas, klebsiella, staph aureus

 

 

Diagnosis

  • Urine dipstick: RBCS, WCC, nitrates
  • Microscopy
  • Culture