Urinary Tract Infection
Under normal circumstances, the urinary system and its structure helps ward off infection. Immune defenses also play a part. The urinary tract is the body's filtering system for removal of liquid wastes. Women may be more susceptible to UTI because their urethral opening is near the source of bacteria. Women who are newly sexually active or have a new sexual partner may be at increased risk of contracting Urinary Tract Infection.
Causes for UTI infection in women
- The female urethra is shorter and this makes it easier for bacteria to travel
- If the bladder is not completely emptied, it may lead to infection.
- Pregnant women and diabetic women are more likely to develop UTI
- Stones or tumor in the urinary tract can cause urinary tract
- Urinary catheters and nephrostomy tubes are also likely causes of UTI in women
UTI treatment
UTI treatment involves a course of antibiotics. Treatment of UTI is done with amoxicillin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole or fluoroquinolones. Treating UTI caused by bladder outlet obstructions may necessitate surgery and hospitalization. Drinking plenty of water and fluids will aid in flushing away the bacteria from the urinary system. Some doctors recommend Vitamin C as it will make the urine acidic and thereby hostile to bacteria. The most important tip to prevent urinary tract infections, bladder infections, and kidney infections is to practice good personal hygiene.
Cause of Urinary Tract Infection
E. coli is the most common cause of UTI. When the infection is limited to the urethra, it is called urethritis. A bladder infection is called cystitis. If the UTI is not treated in time, the infection will travel up and infect the kidneys. Other microorganisms called Chlamydia and Mycoplasmaare also known to cause UTI infection. Other causes of UTI are bladder outlet obstructions or suppressed immune system. Certain blood types enable bacteria to attach more easily to cells that line the urinary tract, causing recurrent infections.
Kidney biopsy
A kidney biopsy is often recommended for those who notice blood in the urine (hematuria), excess protein in the urine (proteinuria) or progressive kidney failure. Kidney biopsy might reveal the causes for improper functioning or rejection of a transplanted kidney. If urine tests, ulrasound or CT scan reveal possible kidney problems, kidney biopsy can aid in determining the cause.
A patient undergoing kidney biopsy is given sedation through IV. The biopsy needle is inserted through the skin with the aid of ultrasound. A small sample tissue is taken for examination. There is likely to be mild soreness in the muscle and some blood in the urine for the next 24 hours. Serious complications include puncture of a major blood vessel or bleeding into the kidney. Abnormal results of kidney biopsy show signs of scarring or inadequate blood flow or signs of disease such as renal cancer. Patients with blood clotting disorder are not advised to undergo this diagnostic test. Obesity, UTI, hypertension are some factors that can affect the accuracy of kidney biopsy results.
Urinalysis
Routine urine analyis is done as part of regular checkup, pregnancy test or to check for UTI. Urinalysis is done along with CMP test or CBC test to get an overall picture of a person's health. Urinalyis is useful in monitoring of diabetes or endocrine disorders. It can be used to screen for drug abuse.
pH level: Typically urine pH can range from 4.5 - 8.
Specific gravity: Specific gravity of around 1.002 and 1.035 is indicative of normal kidney function.
Protein: Total protein in urine normally does not exceed 150 mg/24 hours or 10 mg/100 ml.
Glucose: Excess sugar in urine is usually indicative of diabetes mellitus.
Ketones: The presence of acetone, aceotacetic acid or beta hydroxybutyric acid can indicate caloric deprivation or any other disorder.
Bibliography / Reference
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