Diagrammatic representation of pathophysiology of urinary tract infection
Answers
Urinary tract infection (UTI) refers to a symptomatic bacterial infection within the urinary tract. This includes a lower urinary tract infection – cystitis (symptomatic infection of the bladder), or an upper urinary tract infection – acute pyelonephritis (symptomatic infection of the kidney). These definitions are based upon a grouping of symptoms. However, the bacterial infection may extend beyond the anatomical area suggested by the terminology.
Asymptomatic bacteriuria is present if a patient has two consecutive urine cultures showing >100 000 cfu/mL urine, but does not have any symptoms of a UTI. This is only treated in certain cases, such as prior to a urological operation, in pregnant women, or in immunocompromised patients.
UTIs may be considered complicated if symptoms of pyelonephritis emerge, or if a UTI is found in certain patient populations, including the immunosuppressed, men, pregnant women, diabetics, those with a history of pyelonephritis, or those with structural abnormalities of the urinary tract.