Antibiotic Prescribing and Use. Section Navigation. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. Urinary Tract Infection. Minus Related Pages. Do you have pain or burning when you urinate? You might have a urinary tract infection UTI. On This Page. What is a urinary tract infection UTI? Close A female urinary tract, including the bladder and urethra. If your doctor suspects that the infection has spread, you may need additional tests.
These include blood tests, scans of your kidneys or an ultrasound. Even with the symptoms gone, the bacteria will still be present for a while and you need those antibiotics to finish getting rid of them. If you do not finish your prescription, there is a very good chance that the bacteria left behind will grow again, causing another infection. And, they may become resistant to the antibiotics that you originally used.
If you have frequent urinary tract infections, there are some steps you can take to try to reduce the number of infections you get. They include:. The information here is also available as a Sepsis Information Guide , which is a downloadable format for easier printing. Would you like to share your story about sepsis or read about others who have had sepsis?
Please visit Faces of Sepsis , where you will find hundreds of stories from survivors and tributes to those who died from sepsis. Contributions are deductible for computing income estate taxes. Sepsis Alliance tax ID Share your Story. Get Resources. Donate Button — Arrow. What is a urinary tract infection? Lower UTIs are common and aren't usually a cause for major concern. Upper UTIs can be serious if left untreated, as they could damage the kidneys or spread to the bloodstream. Your GP can rule out other possible causes of your symptoms by testing a sample of your urine and can prescribe antibiotics if you do have an infection.
Antibiotics are usually recommended because untreated UTIs can potentially cause serious problems if they're allowed to spread. Most women are given a three-day course of antibiotic capsules or tablets. Men, pregnant women and people with more serious symptoms may need a slightly longer course. Your symptoms will normally pass within three to five days of starting treatment. But make sure you complete the whole course of antibiotics that you've been prescribed, even if you're feeling better.
Over-the-counter painkillers such as paracetamol can help with any pain. Drinking plenty of fluids may also help you feel better. UTIs occur when the urinary tract becomes infected, usually by bacteria. In most cases, bacteria from the gut enter the urinary tract through the urethra.
Most UTI risk factors for men are the same as those for women. However, having an enlarged prostate can also increase UTI risk. In female bodies, the urethra is very close to both the vagina and the anus. This increases the likelihood of developing UTIs. Bacteria that may naturally occur around both the vagina and anus can lead to infection in the urethra and the rest of the urinary tract.
Urethras in women are also shorter, and the bacteria have a shorter distance to travel to enter the bladder. Pressure on the female urinary tract during penetrative sex can move bacteria from around the anus into the bladder. Oral sex can also introduce bacteria into the urethra, increasing the risk of infection.
Peeing after sex may help reduce the risk of infection. Spermicides may increase UTI risk, because they can disrupt the vaginal microbiome. Non-lubricated latex condoms may increase friction and irritate the skin during sexual intercourse. This may increase the risk of a UTI. However, there are many reasons to use condoms. To help prevent friction and skin irritation from condoms, be sure to use enough water-based lubricant during sex. Avoid using condoms that have been coated with spermicide.
Diaphragms may put pressure on the urethra. This can decrease bladder emptying, increasing the risk for bacterial growth and infection. After menopause , a decrease in estrogen level changes the normal bacteria in your vagina. This can increase the risk for a UTI. If you suspect that you have a UTI based on your symptoms, contact your doctor. Your doctor will review your symptoms and perform a physical examination. To confirm a diagnosis of a UTI, your doctor will need to test your urine for microbes.
This means the urine sample is collected at the middle of your urinary stream, rather than at the beginning. This helps to avoid collecting bacteria or yeast from your skin, which can contaminate the sample. Your doctor will explain to you how to get a clean catch.
When testing the sample, your doctor will look for a higher number of white blood cells in your urine. This can indicate an infection. Your doctor will also do a urine culture to test for bacteria or fungi. The culture can help identify the cause of the infection.
It can also help your doctor choose a treatment. If your doctor suspects the UTI is viral, special testing may need to be performed. Viruses are rare causes of UTIs but can be seen in people who have had organ transplants or who have other conditions that weaken their immune system. If your doctor suspects that you have an upper tract UTI, they may also need to do a complete blood count CBC and blood cultures, in addition to the urine test.
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