SPONSORED FEATURE
Burning Issue
Recurrent urinary tract infections in women
URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS ( UTI ) in women
are a common occurrence . One in two women will experience a UTI at some point in their lives , and up to a quarter of these women may experience multiple repeated urinary infections .
The majority of women with uncomplicated UTI will usually experience a burning sensation on urination . This is often associated with any of the following :
• Frequent and urgent visits to the bathroom to urinate
• Small volumes of urine being passed each time
• Lower abdominal pain or discomfort
• Passage of bloody urine
In atypical cases , the bacterial infection in the bladder may ascend up the ureters to affect the kidneys . This is known as acute pyelonephritis , and may be accompanied by fever , chills and flank pain . There may also be vaginal discharge , itch or foul odour , which is likely due to inflammation of the vagina ( vaginitis ) or urethra ( urethritis ).
What causes recurrent UTI ? The most frequent route for bacteria to gain entry into the female urinary tract are ascending infections of bacteria from the peri-anal area or the vagina , often after sexual intercourse . Commonly identified types of bacteria in typical female UTIs include Escherichia coli , Proteus , Klebsiella , Pseudomonas and Enterococcus .
Patients who experience two or more UTIs within a 12-month period are diagnosed with having recurrent UTIs . Common causes for such recurrent infections include :
• Incomplete bladder emptying , with significant urine volume left after urination
• Presence of stones or tumours in the urinary tract , providing ‘ safe harbours ’ for bacteria to repopulate after courses of antibiotic treatment
• Bacterial resistance to conventional oral antibiotics
• Loss of oestrogen in post-menopausal women , allowing bacteria to adhere more easily to the lining of the urinary tract
50 NOVEMBER 2020 GlobalHealthAsiaPacific . com