For UTIs due to E Coli.Encyclopedia Entry for Urinary Tract Infection :Urinary tract infection - adults. Most UTIs are caused by bacteria that enter the urethra and then the bladder. The infection most commonly develops in the bladder, but can spread to the kidneys. Most of the time, your body can get rid of these bacteria. However, certain conditions increase the risk of having UTIs. Women tend to get them more often because their urethra is shorter and closer to the anus than in men. Because of this, women are more likely to get an infection after sexual activity or when using a diaphragm for birth control. Menopause also increases the risk of a UTI. The following also increase your chances of developing a UTI: Diabetes Advanced age and conditions that affect personal care habits (such as Alzheimer disease and delirium ) Problems emptying the bladder completely Having a urinary catheter Bowel incontinence Enlarged prostate , narrowed urethra , or anything that blocks the flow of urine Kidney stones Staying still (immobile) for a long period of time (for example, while you are recovering from a hip fracture) Pregnancy Surgery or other procedure involving the urinary tract.The symptoms of a bladder infection include: Cloudy or bloody urine, which may have a foul or strong odor Low grade fever in some people Pain or burning with urination Pressure or cramping in the lower abdomen or back Strong need to urinate often, even right after the bladder has been emptied If the infection spreads to your kidneys, symptoms may include: Chills and shaking or night sweats Fatigue and a general ill feeling Fever above 101 F (38.3 C) Pain in the side, back, or groin Flushed, warm, or reddened skin Mental changes or confusion (in older people, these symptoms often are the only signs of a UTI) Nausea and vomiting Very bad abdominal pain (sometimes).Most of the time, you will need to provide a urine sample for the following tests: Urinalysis -- This test is done to look for white blood cells, red blood cells, bacteria, and to test chemicals such as nitrites in the urine. This test can diagnose an infection most of the time. Clean-catch urine culture -- This test may be done to identify the bacteria and determine the best antibiotic for treatment. Blood tests such as complete blood count ( CBC ) and a blood culture may be done as well. You may also need the following tests to help rule out other problems in your urinary system: CT scan of the abdomen Intravenous pyelogram (IVP) Kidney scan Kidney ultrasound Voiding cystourethrogram.Your health care provider must first decide if the infection is just in the bladder, or if it has spread to the kidneys and how severe it is. MILD BLADDER AND KIDNEY INFECTIONS Most of the time, you will need to take an antibiotic to prevent the infection from spreading to the kidneys. For a simple bladder infection, you will take antibiotics for 3 days (women) or 7 to 14 days (men). If you are pregnant or have diabetes, or have a mild kidney infection, you will most often take antibiotics for 7 to 14 days. Finish all of the antibiotics, even if you feel better. If you do not finish the whole dose of medicine, the infection may return and be harder to treat later. Always drink plenty of water when you have a bladder or kidney infection. Tell your provider if you might be pregnant before taking these drugs. RECURRENT BLADDER INFECTIONS Some women have repeated bladder infections. Your provider may suggest that you: Take a single dose of an antibiotic after sexual contact to prevent an infection. Have a 3-day course of antibiotics at home to use if you develop an infection. Take a single, daily dose of an antibiotic to prevent infections. MORE SEVERE KIDNEY INFECTIONS You may need to go into the hospital if you are very sick and cannot take medicines by mouth or drink enough fluids. You may also be admitted to the hospital if you: Are an older adult Have kidney stones or changes in the anatomy of your urinary tract Have recently had urinary tract surgery Have cancer, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, or other medical problems Are pregnant and have a fever or are otherwise ill At the hospital, you will receive fluids and antibiotics through a vein. Some people have UTIs that do not go away with treatment or keep coming back. These are called chronic UTIs. If you have a chronic UTI, you may need stronger antibiotics or to take medicine for a longer time. You may need surgery if the infection is caused by a problem with the structure of the urinary tract.Most UTIs can be cured. Bladder infection symptoms most often go away within 24 to 48 hours after treatment begins. If you have a kidney infection, it may take 1 week or longer for symptoms to go away.Complications may include: Life-threatening blood infection ( sepsis ) -- The risk is greater among the young, very old adults, and people whose bodies cannot fight infections (for example, due to HIV or cancer chemotherapy). Kidney damage or scarring. Kidney infection.Contact your provider if you have symptoms of a UTI. Call right away if you have signs of a possible kidney infection, such as: Back or side pain Chills Fever Vomiting Also call if UTI symptoms come back shortly after you have been treated with antibiotics.Diet and lifestyle changes may help prevent some UTIs. After menopause, a woman may use estrogen cream around the vagina to reduce infections. Prevention of cystitis.Bladder infection - adults; UTI - adults; Cystitis - bacterial - adults; Pyelonephritis - adults; Kidney infection - adults.Bladder catheterization, female Bladder catheterization, female Bladder catheterization, male Bladder catheterization, male Female urinary tract Female urinary tract Male urinary tract Male urinary tract Prevention of cystitis Prevention of cystitis.Gupta K, Hooton TM, Naber KG, et al; Infectious Diseases Society of America; European Society for Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. International clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of acute uncomplicated cystitis and pyelonephritis in women: A 2010 update by the Infectious Diseases Society of America and the European Society for Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. Clin Infect Dis. 2011;52(5):e103-e120. PMID: 21292654 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21292654. Hooton TM, Bradley SF, Cardenas DD, et al; Infectious Diseases Society of America. Diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of catheter-associated urinary tract infection in adults: 2009 International Clinical Practice Guidelines from the Infectious Diseases Society of America. Clin Infect Dis. 2010;50(5):625-663. PMID: 20175247 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20175247. Hooton TM. Nosocomial urinary tract infections.Encyclopedia Entry for Urinary Tract Infection :Urinary tract infection - children. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) can occur when bacteria get into the bladder or the kidneys. These bacteria are common on the skin around the anus. They can also be present near the vagina. Normally, there are no bacteria in the urinary tract. However, some things make it easier for bacteria to enter or stay in the urinary tract. These include: A problem in the urinary tract, called vesicoureteral reflux. This condition, which is most often present at birth, allows urine to flow back up into the ureters and kidneys. Brain or nervous system illnesses (such as myelomeningocele, spinal cord injury, hydrocephalus) that make it harder to empty the bladder. Bubble baths or tight-fitting clothes (girls). Changes or birth defects in the structure of the urinary tract. Not urinating often enough during the day. Wiping from back (near the anus) to front after going to the bathroom. In girls, this can bring bacteria to the opening where the urine comes out. UTIs are more common in girls. They may occur often around age 3, as children begin toilet training. Boys who are not circumcised have a slightly higher risk of UTIs before age 1. Children with a problem call reflux (vesicoureteral reflux or VUR) are more likely to have infections. Normally, when the bladder squeezes, no urine should flow back into the ureter. Children may be born with this problem or may have other birth defects of the urinary system that cause reflux.Young children with UTIs may have a fever, poor appetite, vomiting, or no symptoms at all. Most UTIs in children only involve the bladder. If the infection spreads to the kidneys (called pyelonephritis), it may be more serious. Symptoms of a bladder infection in children include: Blood in the urine Cloudy urine Foul or strong urine odor Frequent or urgent need to urinate General ill feeling ( malaise ) Pain or burning with urination Pressure or pain in the lower pelvis or lower back Wetting problems after the child has been toilet trained Signs that the infection may have spread to the kidneys include: Chills with shaking Fever Flushed, warm, or reddened skin Nausea and vomiting Pain in the side (flank) or back Severe pain in the belly area.A urine sample is needed to diagnose a UTI in a child. The sample is examined under a microscope and sent to a lab for a urine culture. It may be hard to get a urine sample in a child who is not toilet trained. The test cannot be done using a wet diaper. Ways to collect a urine sample in a very young child include: Urine collection bag. A special plastic bag is placed over the child's penis or vagina to catch the urine. This is not the best method because the sample may become contaminated. Catheterized specimen urine culture. A plastic tube (catheter) placed into the tip of the penis in boys, or straight into the urethra in girls, collects urine right from the bladder. Suprapubic urine collection. A needle is placed through the skin of the lower abdomen and muscles into the bladder. It is used to collect urine. If this is your child's first UTI, imaging tests may be done to find the cause of the infection or check for kidney damage. Tests may include: Kidney ultrasound X-ray taken while the child is urinating ( voiding cystourethrogram ) These studies may be done while the child has an infection. Most often, they are done weeks to several months later. Your health care provider will consider many things when deciding if and when a special study is needed, including: The child's age and history of other UTIs (infants and younger children usually need follow-up tests) The severity of the infection and how well it responds to treatment Other medical problems or physical defects the child may have.In children, UTIs should be treated quickly with antibiotics to protect the kidneys. Any child under 6 months old or who has other complications should see a specialist right away. Younger infants will most often need to stay in the hospital and be given antibiotics through a vein. Older infants and children are treated with antibiotics by mouth. If this is not possible, they may need to get treated in the hospital. Your child should drink plenty of fluids when being treated for a UTI. Some children may be treated with antibiotics for periods as long as 6 months to 2 years. This treatment is more likely when the child has had repeat infections or vesicoureteral reflux. After antibiotics are finished, your child's provider may ask you to bring your child back to do another urine test. This may be needed to make sure that bacteria are no longer in the bladder.Most children are cured with proper treatment. Most of the time, repeat infections can be prevented. Repeated infections that involve the kidneys can lead to long-term damage to the kidneys.Call your provider if your child's UTI symptoms continue after treatment, or come back more than twice in 6 months. Call your provider if the child's symptoms get worse. Also call if your child develops new symptoms, such as: Back pain or flank pain Bad-smelling, bloody, or discolored urine Fever of 100.4 F (38 C) rectally in infants, or over 101 F (38.3 C) in children Low back pain or abdominal pain below the belly button Fever that does not go away Very frequent urination, or need to urinate many times during the night Vomiting.Things you can do to prevent UTIs include: Avoid giving your child bubble baths. Have your child wear loose-fitting underpants and clothing. Increase your child's intake of fluids. Keep your child's genital area clean to prevent bacteria from entering through the urethra. Teach your child to go the bathroom several times every day. Teach your child to wipe the genital area from front to back to reduce the spread of bacteria. To prevent recurrent UTIs, the provider may recommend low-dose antibiotics after the first symptoms have gone away.UTI - children; Cystitis - children; Bladder infection - children; Kidney infection - children; Pyelonephritis - children.Female urinary tract Female urinary tract Male urinary tract Male urinary tract Voiding cystourethrogram Voiding cystourethrogram Vesicoureteral reflux Vesicoureteral reflux.Elder JS. Urinary tract infections.Encyclopedia Entry for Urinary Tract Infection :Urinary tract infection in girls - aftercare. Your child will take antibiotic medicines by mouth at home. These may come as pills, capsules, or a liquid. For a simple bladder infection, your child will likely take antibiotics for 3 to 5 days. If your child has a fever, your child may take antibiotics for 10 to 14 days. Antibiotics may cause side effects. These include nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, and other symptoms. Talk to your child's doctor if you notice side effects. DO NOT stop giving the medicine until you have spoken to a doctor. Your child should finish all the antibiotic medicine, even if symptoms go away. UTIs that are not well-treated can cause kidney damage. Other treatments include: Taking medicine to ease pain when urinating. This medicine makes the urine a red or orange color. Your child will still need to take antibiotics while taking the pain medicine. Drinking plenty of fluids.The following steps can help prevent UTIs in girls: Avoid giving your child bubble baths. Have your child wear loose-fitting clothing and cotton underwear. Keep your child's genital area clean. Teach your child to urinate several times a day. Teach your child to wipe the genital area from front to back after using the bathroom. This can help reduce the chance of spreading germs from the anus to the urethra. To avoid hard stools, your child should eat foods that are high in fiber , such as whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.Call your child's health care provider after the child finishes taking the antibiotics. Your child may be checked to make sure the infection is gone.Call your child's provider right away if she develops: Back or side pain Chills Fever Vomiting These may be signs of a possible kidney infection. Also, call if your child has already been diagnosed with a UTI and symptoms of a bladder infection come back shortly after finishing the antibiotics. Symptoms of bladder infection include: Blood in the urine Cloudy urine Foul or strong urine odor Frequent or urgent need to urinate General ill feeling (malaise) Pain or burning with urination Pressure or pain in the lower pelvis or lower back Wetting problems after the child has been toilet trained Low-grade fever.Cooper CS, Storm DW. Infection and inflammation of the pediatric genitourinary tract.Encyclopedia Entry for Urinary Tract Infection :Urinary tract infection in women - self-care. UTIs can lead to infection. Most often the infection occurs in the bladder itself. At times, the infection can spread to the kidneys. Common symptoms include: Bad urine odor Pain or burning when you urinate Needing to urinate more often Hard to empty your bladder all the way Strong need to empty your bladder These symptoms should improve soon after you begin taking antibiotics. If you are feeling ill, have a low-grade fever, or some pain in your lower back, these symptoms will take 1 to 2 days to improve, and up to 1 week to go away completely.You will be given antibiotics to be taken by mouth at home. You may need to take antibiotics for only 3 days, or for up to 7 to 14 days. You should take all of the antibiotics, even if you feel better. If you do not finish all of your antibiotics, the infection could return and may be harder to treat. Antibiotics may rarely cause side effects, such as nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, and other symptoms. Report these to your health care provide. DO NOT just stop taking the pills. Make sure your provider knows if you could be pregnant before starting the antibiotics. Your provider may also give you a drug to relieve the burning pain and urgent need to urinate. Your urine will have an orange or red color to it when you are taking this drug. You will still need to take antibiotics.BATHING AND HYGIENE To prevent future urinary tract infections, you should: Choose sanitary pads instead of tampons, which some doctors believe make infections more likely. Change your pad each time you use the bathroom. DO NOT douche or use feminine hygiene sprays or powders. As a general rule, DO NOT use any product containing perfumes in the genital area. Take showers instead of baths. Avoid bath oils. Keep your genital area clean. Clean your genital and anal areas before and after sexual activity. Urinate before and after sexual activity. Wipe from front to back after using the bathroom. Avoid tight-fitting pants. Wear cotton-cloth underwear and pantyhose, and change both at least once a day. DIET The following improvements to your diet may prevent future urinary tract infections: Drink plenty of fluids, 2 to 4 quarts (2 to 4 liters) each day. DO NOT drink fluids that irritate the bladder, such as alcohol and caffeine. RECURRING INFECTIONS Some women have repeated bladder infections. Your provider may suggest that you: Use vaginal estrogen cream if you have dryness caused by menopause. Take a single dose of an antibiotic after sexual contact. Have a 3-day course of antibiotics at home to use if you develop an infection. Take a single, daily dose of an antibiotic to prevent infections.See your health care provider after you finish taking antibiotics to make sure that the infection is gone. If you do not improve or you are having problems with your treatment, talk to your provider sooner.Call your provider right away if the following symptoms develop (these may be signs of a possible kidney infection.): Back or side pain Chills Fever Vomiting Also call if UTI symptoms come back shortly after you have been treated with antibiotics.UTI - self-care; Cystitis - self-care; Bladder infection - self-care.Fagan MJ. Urinary tract infection.