Urinary tract infections

Urinary tract infections are a serious health problem affecting millions of people each year.
Infections of the urinary tract (UTI) are the second most common type of infection in the body.

The urinary system consists of the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. The key elements in the system are the kidneys that 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 sack-like organ in the lower abdomen. Urine is stored in the bladder and emptied through the urethra.

Any part of this system can become infected. As a rule, the farther up in the urinary tract the infection is located, the more serious it is.:

• Urethritis is infection/inflammation of the urethra. This can be due to other things besides the organisms usually involved in UTI's; in particular, many sexually-transmitted diseases (STD's) appear initially as urethritis
• Cystitis is an infection of the bladder. This is the most common form of UTI; it can be aggravated if the bladder does not empty completely when you urinate
• Ureteritis is infection of a ureter. This can occur if the bacteria entered the urinary tract from above, or if the ureter-to-bladder valves don't work properly and allow urine to "reflux" from the bladder into the ureters
• Pyelonephritis is an infection of the kidney itself. This can happen with infection from above, or if reflux into the ureters is so bad that infected urine refluxes all the way to the kidney.

Urinary tract infections are usually referred to as simple or complicated:

• Simple infections occur in healthy urinary tracts and do not spread to other parts of the body. They usually go away readily with treatment
• Complicated infections are caused by anatomic abnormalities, spread to other parts of the body, or are resistant to many antibiotics. They are more difficult to cure.

Normally, urine is sterile. It is usually free of bacteria, viruses, and fungi but does contain fluids, salts, and waste products. An infection occurs when tiny organisms, usually bacteria from the digestive tract, cling to the opening of the urethra and begin to multiply.
In many cases, bacteria first travel to the urethra leading to urethritis.f bacteria move to the bladder and multiply, a bladder infection, called cystitis, results. If the infection is not treated promptly, bacteria may then travel further up the ureters to multiply and infect the kidneys.

Most infections arise from one type of bacteria, Escherichia coli (E. coli), which normally lives in the colon.
Microorganisms called Chlamydia and Mycoplasma may also cause UTIs in both men and women, but these infections tend to remain limited to the urethra and reproductive system. Unlike E. coli, Chlamydia and Mycoplasma may be sexually transmitted, and infections require treatment of both partners.

The urinary system is structured in a way that helps ward off infection. The ureters and bladder normally prevent urine from backing up toward the kidneys, and the flow of urine from the bladder helps wash bacteria out of the body. In men, the prostate gland produces secretions that slow bacterial growth. In both sexes, immune defenses also prevent infection. But despite these safeguards, infections still occur.

Some people are more prone to getting a UTI than others. It more likely affect women than men. Any abnormality of the urinary tract that obstructs the flow of urine (a kidney stone, for example) sets the stage for an infection. An enlarged prostate gland also can slow the flow of urine, thus raising the risk of infection. People with diabetes have a higher risk of a UTI because of changes in the immune system.
A common source of infection is catheters, or tubes, placed in the urethra and bladder.
UTIs may occur in infants, both boys and girls

Not everyone with a UTI develops recognizable signs and symptoms, but most people have some. These can include:

• a strong, persistent urge to urinate
• a burning sensation when urinating
• passing frequent, small amounts of urine
• blood in the urine (hematuria) or cloudy, strong-smelling urine

Each type of UTI may result in more specific signs and symptoms, depending on which part of your urinary tract is infected.










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