Urinary Tract Infection is Widespread in United States

Infections of the urinary tract are the second most common type of infection in the body, accounting for about 8.3 million doctor visits each year, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. One woman in five will experience urinary tract infection. Although not as common in men, urinary tract infections can be very serious when they do occur.

Normally, urine is sterile, said Dr. Tomas Griebling, MD, MPH Vice Chair Department of Urology Surgery at University of Kansas. It is usually free of bacteria, viruses, and fungi but does contain fluids, salts, and waste products. Dr. Griebling went on to say that "when a person has an infection or internal bleeding then their urine will contain bacteria."

The urinary system is created in a way that helps hold off infection. The tubes that move urine 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. Anything that blocks the flow of urine (like a kidney stone) can trigger an infection.

Not everyone with a urinary tract infection has symptoms, but most people get at least some symptoms. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, symptoms may include a frequent urge to urinate and a painful, burning feeling in the area of the bladder or urethra during urination. It is not unusual to feel bad all overÑtired, shaky, washed outÑand to feel pain even when not urinating. The urine itself may look milky or cloudy, even reddish if blood is present.

To determine if a person has a urinary tract infection, a health care provider will run a urinalysis test which examines the urine for white and red blood cells and bacteria.

Dr. Griebling said there are many people who have symptoms, see their health care provider but do not perform a urinalysis; there are other conditions that can have the same symptoms.

"Antibiotics are the mainstay treatment for urinary tract infections," said Dr. Griebling. Because over time some bacteria become more resilient to certain types of antibiotics, Dr. Griebling went on to note that "urologists recommend that an urine culture is performed by a health care provider to confirm the presence of bacteria" before an antibiotic is prescribed. "Urinary tract infections are one of the illnesses in which people are encouraged not to treat with antibiotics unless a urine culture confirms infection" said Dr. Griebling.