Urinary Tract Infection Many Urinary

Urinary Tract Infection

Many urinary tract infections (UTIs) whose etiological agents are bacteria are from the host normal microbial flora like the bowel, vagina, and skin. The Staphylococcus aaprophyticus which causes 5-15% of UTIs and Enterococcus faecalis are some of the gram positive organisms that cause UTIs (Sobieszczyk, 2008). Gram positive organisms include Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa to mention but a few. Gram negative organisms cause 85% of community acquired infections. Staphylococcus aureus is one of the serious causes of urinary tract infections. UTIs are very prevalent in sexually active women. Women aged 65 years and more and those without estrogen tend to be more exposed to UTIs than men (Sobieszczyk, 2008). Patients who do not secrete ABO blood group antigens are three to four times more likely to have recurrent UTIs. UTI is very common in boys aged up to 6 months with higher incidence of abnormalities or urinary tract than girls.

Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) present different symptoms in adults, infants, older patients, and toddlers. Symptoms of lower urinary tract infections normally begin suddenly. The symptoms include an urge to urinate frequently; something that recurs immediately after the bladder has been emptied. It is possible that one would experience a painful burning sensation when urinating (Sobieszczyk, 2008). The burning sensation is an indication that a patient may be suffering from urethritis, an infection that is limited to the urethra. One would also experience discomfort or pressure in the lower abdomen which can feel bloated. Lower urinary tract infection is also synonymous with pain in the pelvic area; strong smelling urine that is cloudy and contains blood. This is a pointer that there is a high white blood cell count in the urine. It is a very reliable indicator of urinary tract infections. A patient is also likely to develop fever.

Severe kidney infection medically known as Pyelonephritis is characterized with lower UTI symptoms that persist longer than a week. A patient realizes increased need to urinate at night. There are episodes of chills and persistent fever that last for more than two days. A patient may also realize pain in the flank that runs along the back at about waist level (Harvey & Zieve, D, 2013). Vomiting and nausea is also common.

Urinary Tract Infections in infants and toddlers tend to be more severe than in young women. This is because it is more likely to involve their kidneys. Symptoms of urinary tract infections in older children tend to be more standard (Harvey & Zieve, D, 2013). The severity of UTIs in infants and young children calls for screening to establish whether they have persistent high fever of unknown cause often accompanied by feeding problems, debility, listlessness, and fatigue; painful, frequent, and foul smelling urine; cloudy urine; recurrence of bed wetting or poor urine control during the day especially in children who had previously attained control of urine during the day; abdominal and lower back pain; and vomiting and abdominal pain (Harvey & Zieve, D, 2013). These symptoms are an indication that a toddler or an infant is suffering from urinary tract infection.