Urinary Health Facts

You might be wondering just how common are UTIs? A urinary tract infection is one of the most common infections diagnosed in the U.S., and over 10 million people suffer from a UTI each year.

Keep reading to learn about the basics of urinary tract infections, the most common causes, and when to speak with your doctor.

What is a urinary tract infection?

A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection caused by organisms in any part of your urinary system. Typically, this occurs by the overgrowth of bacteria or fungus in the bladder or the urethra, known as the lower urinary tract. UTIs in the kidney and the ureters, known as the upper urinary tract, are less common yet may be more severe.

What causes a UTI in women?

Escherichia coli (E. coli) is the most common bacteria responsible for a UTI, it is commonly found in the gastrointestinal tract. While sexual activity is commonly associated with bladder infections, they may also be caused by dehydration and changes in hormones during menopause. Menopause can cause the body to become more susceptible to frequent UTIs due to disruption of pH in the vagina.

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What causes a UTI in men?

In men, a UTI is more common at an older age, commonly due to an enlarged prostate which impedes the bladder from completely emptying and providing an opportunity for bacteria to grow. While sexual activity can be associated with bladder infections in men, this is less common, however there additional causes men should be aware of.

How do you know if you have a UTI?

There are commonly two ways a UTI may be diagnosed: a “urine dip stick” or a “urine culture.” The “urine dip” comes back in minutes and does not specify what type of bacteria or what antibiotic should be used (and inaccurate up to 80% of the time -yikes!).

Many urgent care facilities or general practitioners use the urine dipstick test and treat empirically (aka educated guess) or do not get a culture to verify infection. This, unfortunately, leads to over-reliance on broad-spectrum antibiotic treatment, as they do not want liability of having to follow it up with the patient.

For the “urine culture” your sample is collected at the clinic then sent off to a lab for processing, reporting back in a few days (usually 3-5) the type of bacteria as well as antibiotics for treatment. Cultures are typically only looking for fast-growing bacteria like E.coli. To get a UTI diagnosis identification of teh bacteria is key as this tells the provider the organism causing symptoms along with guiding the appropriate antibiotic choice. It is well documented, that the more exposure to antibiotics the less effective they become.

For individuals experiencing frequent UTIs, around 30% of cultures will come back negative or inconclusive. This can be due to more than one pathogen (bad guy) causing the infection and painful symptoms. Confirmatory testing is especially important if you experience more than three urinary tract infections in a year, or two in six months, as this may be a condition known as a recurrent or chronic UTI.

In these cases, patients and clinicians may benefit from more robust modern diagnostic testing, like the MyUTI test, to identify all the organisms responsible as well as th

When to see a doctor for a UTI?

Common symptoms of a UTI in the lower urinary tract, such as the bladder, include cloudy or blood-tinged urine and strong odor from urine. A kidney infection may present as lower back pain, fever, chills, and nausea. You could just have one, a few, or all symptoms of a UTI. It’s important to recognize these symptoms and know when to call your doctor.

Today, many clinicians are offering telemedicine appointments to support the treatment of common conditions, including acute and recurrent bladder infections. You can also get fast online UTI Care with one of the providers found here.