💧 Renal🟢 BasicUrinary Tract Infections

Urinary Tract Infection

Infection of the urinary system, usually by gut bacteria, common in women, ranging from a bladder infection to a kidney infection.

Key points

Urinary tract infection is usually caused by gut bacteria, most often Escherichia coli, entering through the urethra.
It is much more common in women because the urethra is short, and in pregnancy, and with catheters or obstruction.
A lower infection (cystitis) causes burning on passing urine, frequency, urgency and lower abdominal discomfort.
An upper infection (pyelonephritis) reaches the kidney, adding fever, loin pain and feeling generally unwell.
It is confirmed by testing and culturing the urine, which also guides the choice of antibiotic.

Memory trick

UTI (usually E. coli via the urethra; commoner in women, pregnancy, catheters): cystitis is burning, frequency, urgency and low pain; pyelonephritis reaches the kidney with fever, loin pain and feeling unwell; confirm by urine test and culture.

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💧 Renal🟢 BasicUrinary Tract Infections

Urinary Tract Infection

Infection of the urinary system, usually by gut bacteria, common in women, ranging from a bladder infection to a kidney infection.

Key points

Urinary tract infection is usually caused by gut bacteria, most often Escherichia coli, entering through the urethra.
It is much more common in women because the urethra is short, and in pregnancy, and with catheters or obstruction.
A lower infection (cystitis) causes burning on passing urine, frequency, urgency and lower abdominal discomfort.
An upper infection (pyelonephritis) reaches the kidney, adding fever, loin pain and feeling generally unwell.
It is confirmed by testing and culturing the urine, which also guides the choice of antibiotic.

Memory trick

All of General Medicine More Renal