What you should know about urinary tract infections
3/28/2024 by Melissa Bogin, M.D.
Urinary tract infections, often referred to as UTI, are one of the most common diagnoses made in the clinical setting. UTIs are typically infections of the bladder, and they are most common in young, sexually active females and older adults with certain medical problems. Children may also get these infections while they are being toilet-trained.
Female patients are more likely to be affected due to the female genital anatomy, which has a shorter distance between the urinary opening (urethra) and the bladder. This structure allows bacteria to enter the bladder. People who have trouble emptying their bladders due to prostate or spinal cord problems are also at greater risk for infection. When infections are not treated, bacteria can spread to the kidneys and bloodstream and make people very sick.
Common symptoms include:
- Low belly pain or pressure above the pubic bone.
- Burning with urination.
- Needing to urinate more frequently.
- Stronger smelling urine (though this symptom is not consistently a sign of an infection).
- Small amounts of blood in the urine.
Mid-back pain, fevers, chills and vomiting with these symptoms may indicate a more serious infection and should prompt a medical evaluation. If you are concerned that you may have a UTI, contact your primary care clinician. A urine test will be ordered to confirm this problem.
How can you prevent UTIs?
- Be well hydrated: Staying hydrated flushes urine from the bladder, preventing bacteria that may be present from remaining in the bladder and causing infection.
- Urinate after sexual activity to remove bacteria that may have been introduced into the urethra.
- For females, utilize good urinary and genital hygiene and wipe only from front to back.
- Avoid douching and other feminine hygiene sprays. These have been linked to an increased risk of infection.
Talk to your primary care clinician if you have issues with recurrent urinary tract infections. They may be able to prescribe a medication to prevent infections in the future.
Melissa Bogin, M.D., is a board-certified internal medicine physician and geriatrician-in-training in the Mayo Clinic Department of Community Internal Medicine, Geriatrics and Palliative Care. Her clinical interests include caring for older adults in both the outpatient and nursing home settings.