How Do You Check For Urinary Tract Infection

How Are Utis Diagnosed

To diagnose a UTI, health care providers ask questions about what’s going on, do an exam, and take a sample of pee for testing.

How a sample is taken depends on a child’s age. Older kids might simply need to pee into a sterile cup. For younger children in diapers, a catheter is usually preferred. This is when a thin tube is inserted into the urethra up to the bladder to get a “clean” urine sample.

The sample may be used for a urinalysis or a urine culture . Knowing what bacteria are causing the infection can help your doctor choose the best treatment.

Tips To Prevent A Urinary Tract Infection

A urinary tract infection, also called a UTI, is an infection that occurs in the urinary system. This could include the urethra, bladder, ureters and kidneys. Most infections involve the bladder and urethra, known as the lower urinary tract.

The most common symptoms include painful urination, tenderness above the bladder area, urgency and frequency of urination. Cloudy and a strong odor are not signs of infection.

Women are at greater risk for a UTI because the urethra is shorter than in men, so it’s easier for bacteria to travel to the bladder. UTIs also are more common in postmenopausal women because low estrogen levels change vaginal and urethral tissue to increase the risk of infection.

It’s always better to prevent an infection rather than simply treat it. UTIs are no different.

Symptoms Of Pets Urinary Tract Infection

One of the first symptoms of a UTI in your pet may be that he or she has had a few accidents around the house. If you notice this, then its a good idea to observe for other symptoms of a UTI. These can be any of the following:

• Pinkish stains where your dog has urinated due to blood in the urine
• Changes in urination habits either going more frequently or less
• Signs of pain while urinating
• Excessive licking of the genital area
• Dribbling small amounts of urine

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What Are The Risk Factors For Getting Bladder Infections And Other Uti Infections

A person is more likely to get a bladder infection if they dont urinate frequently enough. If they hold their urine in, the bacteria can collect in the bladder and lead to infection. Try to go to the bathroom at least every two to three hours to keep this from happening.

Not drinking enough water is another risk factor for bladder infections because your body doesnt move as much urine through the bladder as quickly.

Risk factors for urethritis include having a sexually transmitted infection or from trauma to the urethra, such as due to the insertion of a urinary catheter.

In addition to these specific risk factors for bladder infections, there are general risk factors for all UTI types. These include:

risk factors for uti

• being pregnant
• having diabetes, as a person experiences changes to their immune system that make them more prone to UTIs
• having an enlarged prostate
• having low levels of estrogen, such as when a woman is post-menopausal
• having a history of kidney stones, which can block the flow of urine through the urinary tract

Women are also more likely than men to get UTIs because their urethra is shorter. The bacteria have less distance to go to reach the bladder and can cause infections.

Check If It’s A Urinary Tract Infection

Symptoms of a urinary tract infection may include:

• pain or a burning sensation when peeing
• needing to pee more often than usual during the night
• pee that looks cloudy, dark or has a strong smell
• needing to pee suddenly or more urgently than usual
• needing to pee more often than usual
• lower tummy pain or pain in your back, just under the ribs
• a high temperature, or feeling hot and shivery
• a very low temperature below 36C

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Dogs That Are Prone To Utis

Any dog breed can develop a urinary tract infection, but female dogs develop UTIs more commonly than male dogs.

Male dogs have longer urethras, requiring the bacteria to travel farther to invade the bladder. Picture the bacteria getting tired on their long trek and either giving up on their journey or dying before they make it to their destination.

Dog breeds that are prone to bladder stones are more prone to UTIs in generalespecially chronic, recurrent UTIs. This is due to the stones rolling around in a dogs bladder and breaking down its defense mechanisms, causing inflammation.

Breeds that are predisposed to chronic UTIs secondary to bladder stones include:

Is It Possible To Treat A Uti At Home Without The Use Of Antibiotics

Most UTIs require treatment with antibiotics. When certain groups of people, including people with a penis, have a UTI, the infection is usually considered to be complicated. Delaying treatment of complicated UTIs can lead to complications, such as a kidney infection or sepsis. If you are experiencing symptoms of a UTI, visit a doctor or healthcare professional and have a urine test performed.

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What Is A Uti

A urinary tract infection occurs when bacteria or other microbes, usually fecal flora, enter the urinary tract and cause an infection. The urinary tract is the bodys system for collecting and eliminating urine and includes the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra.

UTIs can affect several parts of the urinary tract. Most UTIs occur in the bladder , but they may also involve the kidneys , urethra , or prostate . UTIs are common, most frequently affecting women, resulting in more than 8.1 million visits to a doctor each year.

How Do You Test For A Urinary Tract Infection

Diagnosis of a urinary tract infection usually includes evaluating your symptoms and testing your urine.

• The most common UTI test is a urinalysis. This is a urine sample that is checked for abnormalities.
• A urinalysis can be done in your doctors office. It checks your urine sample for bacteria that cause UTIs and white blood cells caused by the infection.
• While it should not be used for diagnosis, a different type of urinalysis can be done at home with an over-the-counter test kit. It can help you identify possible signs of infection to share with your doctor.

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How Can I Prevent Utis

If you’ve ever had a urinary tract infection, you know that once is more than enough. The good news is you may be able to prevent UTIs. Try these simple tips:

• Drink a lot of fluids .

• Pee when you need to. Don’t hold it.

• Pee before and after sex.

• Wash the skin around your anus and genitals with warm water and gentle soap.

• Use barriers like condoms and dental dams during sex, especially during sexual contact with your anus.

Also, anything that touches or goes into your anus like a finger, penis, or sex toy should be thoroughly washed before touching other genitals.

If youve got a vulva, wipe from front to back after using the bathroom and keep your vulva clean and dry. You can do this by wearing underwear with a cotton crotch and not using douches, powder, or deodorant sprays in your vagina.

If you get frequent UTIs, drinking cranberry juice or taking cranberry supplement pills might help prevent them. If none of these things help, your nurse or doctor may give you a low dose antibiotic to take on a regular basis or after sex. So its also a good idea to talk to a doctor or nurse to see if there are any other reasons you might be getting UTIs.

Cultures And The Laboratory Diagnosis Of Utis

Routine bacterial urine cultures. Urine culture may not be necessary as part of the evaluation of outpatients with uncomplicated UTIs . However, urine cultures are necessary for outpatients who have recurrent UTIs, experience treatment failures, or have complicated UTIs. Urine cultures are also necessary for inpatients who develop UTIs. The bacterial culture remains an important test in the diagnosis of UTI, not only because it helps to document infection, but also because it is necessary for determination of the identity of the infecting microorganism and for antimicrobial susceptibility testing. This is particularly true because of the increased incidence of antimicrobial resistance.

Catheterized patients and many patients with infections of the lower urinary tract have colony counts much lower than 105 cfu/mL if the specimens are obtained via suprapubic aspirate or catheterization . Accordingly, the most appropriate diagnostic criterion for urine culture specimens obtained via suprapubic aspirate or catheterization is a bacterial concentration of 102 cfu/mL .

Interpreting culture results for urine specimens yielding common urinary tract pathogens.

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Does Baptist Health Offer Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy For Urinary Incontinence

Seventy percent of men and women with urinary incontinence have shown improvement following pelvic floor physical therapy offered at Baptist Health.

Led by a physical therapist who specializes in pelvic floor therapy, this treatment occurs with regular appointments for six to eight weeks. It includes learning exercises to strengthen core and pelvic floor muscles, bladder training and bowel management, biofeedback and electrical stimulation. The therapist also instructs patients on proper stretching, relaxation, deep breathing and visualization. The treatment is not painful and is recommended prior to surgery or other more invasive treatment options.

What Uti Test Should Pregnant Women Have

Pregnant women are especially susceptible to urinary tract infections, thanks in part to pregnancy hormones, so its recommended that all get screened for UTIs between 12 and 16 weeks of pregnancy or at ones initial prenatal appointment. For this population, a urine culture is considered the most reliable test, especially for asymptomatic bacteriuria , which is a UTI without symptoms. However, since theres a high rate of false positives for pregnant women, a positive result often leads to a second test a week later in order to avoid unnecessary treatment.

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How Do They Work

You can buy over-the-counter UTI dipstick tests at your local drugstore or online. They work much like a pregnancy test: Each kit comes with a testing strip . You wet a test strip by holding it in your urine stream for a few seconds. Or, you can collect urine in a clean cup and dip the strip into the sample. Wait 1 to 2 minutes for the color of the test strip to change. This will vary depending on the brand you use. Check the chart on the home test kit to find out if youâve tested positive for a UTI.

Home test kits might be useful if you have UTIs that keep coming back. They check for white blood cells and bacteria in the urine. But the results can be affected by a number of things, like medications youâre taking. And studies show that urine cultures are far more reliable for showing whether you have a UTI.

The bottom line: See your doctor to be sure, no matter what your UTI home test reveals.

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Urinary Tract Infections In Babies And Young Children

Babies and children are at risk of UTIs. These infections always need to be investigated as they may indicate a serious underlying condition, such as urinary reflux. Reflux is caused by a bladder valve problem allowing urine to flow back into the kidneys from the bladder. Reflux can cause the urine to stay inside the body increasing the risk of infection. It may lead to kidney scarring, which in turn leads to high blood pressure and sometimes kidney problems.

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How Are Utis Treated

Treatments for UTIs often depend on the severity of the infection. Doctors often divide UTIs into simple and complicated infections.

Bladder infections usually fall into the simple category. Doctors can usually treat them with antibiotics over the course of three to five days. Common antibiotics used to treat bladder infections include trimethoprim, ciprofloxacin, and amoxicillin-clavulanate potassium.

If you have an infection, you should always take all of your antibiotics, even if you feel better. This keeps the infection from coming back.

Complicated UTIs are harder to treat. Kidney infections usually fall into this category. If you have a complicated UTI, you may require IV antibiotics and have to take antibiotics for a week or more.

How To Prevent Pet Urinary Tract Infections

Of course, preventing a urinary tract infection will help your pet avoid the discomfort of painful urination. You will also save on unnecessary visits to your local vet. So, what can you do to prevent UTIs in pets? Here are a few practical ideas:

• Encourage your dog to drink fresh, clean water often to help flush toxins.
• Make sure your dog has plenty of opportunities to urinate and avoid.
• Take your pet for a checkup at least once a year.

Recommended Reading: Why Do Males Get Urinary Tract Infections

Symptoms Of Urinary Tract Infections In Dogs

Dog UTI symptoms result from inflammation and pain due to bacteria invading the bladder wall.

Signs of a UTI in dogs may include:

• Inappropriate urination

• Frequent urination

• Straining to urinate with only a small amount of urine production

• Blood in the urine

In more severe cases, where the infection moves into a dogs kidneys, you may see:

• Lethargy

About Urinary Tract Infections

Urinary tract infections are common infections that can affect the bladder, the kidneys and the tubes connected to them.

Anyone can get them, but they’re particularly common in women. Some women experience them regularly .

UTIs can be painful and uncomfortable, but usually pass within a few days and can be easily treated with antibiotics.

This page is about UTIs in adults. There is a separate article about UTIs in children.

This page covers:

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Getting Tested For A Uti

Testing for a UTI usually takes place in a doctors office, laboratory, or hospital. Most tests for UTIs involve a urine sample obtained by clean-catch or catheterization. Your doctor can help determine which method is appropriate for you.

• Clean catch urine samples are collected by patients with special precautions to prevent outside germs from getting into the urine sample. Patients are given instructions on obtaining a clean catch sample and avoiding contamination.
• Catheterization involves inserting a thin rubber tube through the urethra into the bladder. When performing this procedure, the urine is collected in a sterile container for testing before removing the catheter.

How Are You Tested And Screened For A Uti

If you are experiencing symptoms like painful urination or a frequent urge to use the bathroom, you might be headed toward a UTI diagnosis. To find out for sure, youll need to have a healthcare professional, like your general practitioner, test your urine for both bacteria and other components that could indicate a urinary tract infection. When diagnosing a UTI, a urine test should be standard protocol. That, however, is not always the case. In fact, less than one in five patients treated for a UTI actually has a laboratory urine test to diagnose their problem, according to 2019 study in the journal E Clinical Medicine.30120-8/fulltext” rel=”nofollow”> 2)

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How Are Urinary Tract Infections Treated

You will need to treat a urinary tract infection. Antibiotics are medicines that kill bacteria and fight an infection. Antibiotics are typically used to treat urinary tract infections. Your healthcare provider will pick a drug that best treats the particular bacteria thats causing your infection. Some commonly used antibiotics can include:

• Nitrofurantoin.
• Doxycycline.
• Quinolones .

Its very important that you follow your healthcare providers directions for taking the medicine. Dont stop taking the antibiotic because your symptoms go away and you start feeling better. If the infection is not treated completely with the full course of antibiotics, it can return.

If you have a history of frequent urinary tract infections, you may be given a prescription for antibiotics that you would take at the first onset of symptoms. Other patients may be given antibiotics to take every day, every other day, or after sexual intercourse to prevent the infection. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best treatment option for you if you have a history of frequent UTIs.

How To Tell If Your Toddler Has A Urinary Tract Infection

25 October, 2017

It is difficult to tell if your toddler has a urinary tract infection because he or she may not be able to describe any symptoms or tell you when he or she is ill. When your toddler has a UTI, it is usually caused by stool getting into the urethra and contaminating the urinary tract. It is important to monitor your toddler for signs of illness that could be a UTI.

You need to get treatment for your toddler’s UTI because failure to do so may result in kidney damage. Take the following steps to determine if your toddler has a urinary tract infection.

Visit the pediatrician. Your toddler will need a physical examination and urine test to determine if he or she has a UTI. If your toddler is not toilet trained, your doctor may need to attach a urine collection bag to his or her skin and wait for him or her to urinate. The doctor will then collect the urine from the bag and perform a urinalysis to check for infection. Your doctor will also look at the urine to see if it looks different from normal, clear, straw-colored urine.

Monitor smells. When children have UTIs, the bacteria cause foul-smelling urine. If your toddler’s urine has a strong, bad or fishy odor, call your doctor.

Watch for fever. If your toddler has a fever, he or she is fighting an infection. If the fever is not accompanied by a cold, cough or earache, he or she may have a urinary tract infection. Report the elevated temperature to your doctor.

Tips

Warnings

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