Urinary Tract Infection

Urinary tract infections can be very uncomfortable.  They can occur in both young people and the elderly, depending upon the situation.  At some point in your life you may experience this type of infection.  A urinary tract infection can cause many different signs and symptoms and there are several risk factors you should be familiar with.  It is our goal at Total Home Health to educate you as best as possible in order to promote your health and prevent any urinary tract infections that could happen to you and interrupt your normal ways of life.

There are three parts that make up the urinary system: the ureters, bladder, and urethra.  The ureters are where the urine flows down into the bladder where it is then stored, after being stored it is eliminated out of the body via the urethra.  Urinary tract infections are commonly caused by Escherichia coli…better known by you as “E. coli.”  E. coli is found in stool and can cause a urinary tract infection if you or your loved one has bowel incontinence, or if your perineal personal hygiene is not as efficient as it should be.

Following are some risk factors that may increase your chance of acquiring a urinary tract infection at some point in your life:

-  Being female

·         Due to their anatomical make-up, females have a shorter urethra, which predisposes them to more frequent urinary tract infections.

·         The urethra, where urine is eliminated from, is much closer to the rectum than in men, which leaves a greater chance of contamination with stool.

·         Frequent use of sanitary napkins, feminine hygiene sprays, etc.

·         Changes in hormones with aging

·         Taking tub baths more frequently than showers

-  Having an indwelling catheter for urinary elimination

·         This puts you at an increased risk because whenever there is something that enters the body from the outside, such as a catheter, it is also a perfect entrance for organisms that can cause an infection.

-  Stool incontinence

·         If you experience stool incontinence and are not cleaned timely and correctly, stool could contaminate the perineal area and/or enter the urethra, which could  cause an infection.

-  Distention of the bladder

·         If this is your case, the bladder will not be completely emptied and the urine that remains may be a host for an infection to set in.

ü  An enlarged prostate in males

·         This could cause incomplete emptying of the bladder which could lead to a urinary tract infection.

-  Certain diseases, such as diabetes mellitus

From the list above it seems like women are at a huge disadvantage and are more likely to be the ones to get urinary tract infections.  However, if you are a man you should not be too confident because anyone can get this type of infection.  In addition, if you are an older adult and come down with a urinary tract infection your caregivers and loved ones around you may also notice things such as mental confusion, more frequent incontinence, loss of appetite, and more urination at night.  Older adults tend to have these more pertinent signs and symptoms just due to the way the body is aging and even though things are still working, they generally continue to work slower and slower.  Following are the signs and symptoms that may be experienced if you have a urinary tract infection:

-  Lower back or lower abdominal discomfort

-  Nausea and/or vomiting

-  More frequent urination

-  Feeling like you need to urinate but cannot go

-  Discomfort when urinating

-  Feeling like you did not get finished urinating

-  Itching in the perineal area (the area where the penis or vagina is located)

-  Urine that is red-tinged, smoky, or coffee-colored

-  Fever

-  Voiding, but in small amounts

-  Discharge from the urethra

-  Urine that is cloudy or foul-smelling

Here are just a few important reminders that our professional staff at Total Home Health would like to extend to you so that you can better prevent your chance of acquiring a urinary tract infection.  We want you to be proactive and stop the infection before it starts, so here are a few ways you can do just that:

-  Drink lots of water…around 3 liters a day would be great!

-  Use the bathroom at least every 3 to 4 hours, don’t wait until your bladder is full!

-  Females…after urinating make sure to wipe front to back to avoid contamination of your urethra.

-  Drink cranberry juice…it may stop certain bacteria from causing infections, but if you have cystitis…DO NOT drink it because it could irritate your bladder.

To determine whether or not you are experiencing a urinary tract infection, your provider will do a urinalysis.  This involves collecting a sample of your urine, either by obtaining a clean catch specimen where you urinate like normal, or via a more invasive straight catheterization procedure.  A urinalysis is the basic diagnostic test that will be completed in order for your treatment plan to begin, from that point if your condition warrants further testing your provider will then explain that more in-depth with you. 

With Total Home Health, our professional nursing staff is well educated when it comes to this condition and is ready to join your team.  We will teach you all we know when it comes to preventing urinary tract infections now and in the future.  Our ultimate goal is to promote your independence in your home, while strictly adhering to your treatment plan and treating you as one of our own every second of every visit.  We believe that when clients have a great relationship with their caregivers it creates that much more of a positive effect on their health, which is what we strive for!