Urinary Tract Infections
URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS
OUTLINE
· Background information
· What are the causes of UTI?
· Who is at risk?
1. Recurrent Infections
2. Infections in pregnancy
· What are the symptoms of UTI?
· How is UTI diagnosed?
· How is UTI treated?
1. Recurrent Infections in women
2. Infections in pregnancy
3. Complicated Infections
· Is there a vaccine to prevent recurrent UTIs?
Background Information
Urinary tract infections are a serious health problem affecting millions of people each year. Infections of the urinary tract are commononly respiratory infections occur more often. In 1997, urinary tract infections (UTIs) accounted for about 8.3 million doctor visits.* Women are especially prone to UTIs for reasons that are poorly understood. One woman in five develops a UTI during her lifetime. UTIs in men are not so common, but they can be very serious when they do occur.
The urinary system consists of the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. The key elements in the system are the kidneys, a pair of purplish-brown organs located below the ribs toward the middle of the back. The kidneys remove excess liquid and wastes from the blood in the form of urine, keep a stable balance of salts and other substances in the blood, and produce a hormone that aids the formation of red blood cells. Narrow tubes called ureters carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder, a triangle-shaped chamber in the lower abdomen. Urine is stored in the bladder and emptied through the urethra.
The average adult passes about a quart and a half of urine each day. The amount of urine varies, depending on the fluids and foods a person consumes. The volume formed at night is about half that formed in the daytime.
What are the causes of UTI?
Normal urine is sterile. It contains fluids, salts, and waste products, but it is free of bacteria, viruses, and fungi. An infection occurs when
OUTLINE
· Background information
· What are the causes of UTI?
· Who is at risk?
1. Recurrent Infections
2. Infections in pregnancy
· What are the symptoms of UTI?
· How is UTI diagnosed?
· How is UTI treated?
1. Recurrent Infections in women
2. Infections in pregnancy
3. Complicated Infections
· Is there a vaccine to prevent recurrent UTIs?
Background Information
Urinary tract infections are a serious health problem affecting millions of people each year. Infections of the urinary tract are commononly respiratory infections occur more often. In 1997, urinary tract infections (UTIs) accounted for about 8.3 million doctor visits.* Women are especially prone to UTIs for reasons that are poorly understood. One woman in five develops a UTI during her lifetime. UTIs in men are not so common, but they can be very serious when they do occur.
The urinary system consists of the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. The key elements in the system are the kidneys, a pair of purplish-brown organs located below the ribs toward the middle of the back. The kidneys remove excess liquid and wastes from the blood in the form of urine, keep a stable balance of salts and other substances in the blood, and produce a hormone that aids the formation of red blood cells. Narrow tubes called ureters carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder, a triangle-shaped chamber in the lower abdomen. Urine is stored in the bladder and emptied through the urethra.
The average adult passes about a quart and a half of urine each day. The amount of urine varies, depending on the fluids and foods a person consumes. The volume formed at night is about half that formed in the daytime.
What are the causes of UTI?
Normal urine is sterile. It contains fluids, salts, and waste products, but it is free of bacteria, viruses, and fungi. An infection occurs when