Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) in Adults

• Bacteriuria refers to the presence of bacteria in the urine. Urinary tract infection (UTI) implies the presence of characteristic symptoms and significant bacteriuria from kidneys to bladder. Many laboratories regard 10⁵ colony-forming units per millilitre (cfu/ml) as the threshold for diagnosing significant bacteriuria.
• Lower UTI is generally considered to be infection of the bladder (cystitis).
• Upper UTI includes pyelitis and pyelonephritis.
• Recurrent UTI may be due to relapse or reinfection.The number of recurrences that is regarded as clinically significant depends on age and sex.
• Uncomplicated UTI refers to infection of the urinary tract by a usual pathogen in a person with a normal urinary tract and with normal kidney function.
• Complicated UTI occurs where anatomical, functional, or pharmacological factors predispose the person to persistent infection, recurrent infection, or treatment failure eg. abnormal urinary tract.

Between 52% and 90% of men with a UTI have been reported to have prostatic involvement in the infection,¹ which can result in prostatic abscesses or prostatitis.

Several micro-organisms are known to cause UTI, but the majority of infections will be produced by 3 organisms:

• Escherichia coli
• Staphylococcus saprophyticus
• Proteus mirabilis.

Infection with less common organisms is more likely to occur in patients who have underlying pathology and/or frequent infections, are immunosuppressed, or who are catheterised. Organisms which may produce infection under these circumstances include:

• Klebsiella sp.
• Proteus vulgaris
• Candida albicans
• Pseudomonas sp.

UTIs are common in general practice accounting for 1-3% of all consultations. The frequency of acute cystitis in young women is of the order of 0.5-0.7 episodes per person per year,² and approximately 25% of these will develop recurrent episodes.³

• UTIs occur much less frequently in men at all ages.
• Patients of either sex are more likely to develop a UTI if there is an abnormality of the renal tract or if there has been recent instrumentation of the renal tract.
• Antibiotic use changes the vaginal flora and promotes colonisation of the genital tract with E. coli resulting in subsequent increased risk of UTI.
• Other risk factors associated with UTI include¹:
  • Recent sexual activity
  • New sexual partner
  • Use of spermicide⁴
  • Diabetes
  • Presence of catheter
  • Institutionalisation
  • Pregnancy; a history of possible pregnancy should be sought in women of child-bearing age.
• There may also be a genetic component to risk as there is an increased incidence of UTI in the immediate female relatives of women with recurrent UTI. This theory is also supported by the fact that UTIs are 3-4 times more likely to occur in women with certain blood groups.⁵

A UTI can present with a range of symptoms, or may be totally asymptomatic being diagnosed only on routine dip testing. The presenting symptoms will vary with the age and sex of the patient and also with the severity and site of the infection but may include:

• Urinary frequency
• Dysuria
• Haematuria
• Foul smelling ± cloudy urine
• Urgency
• Urinary incontinence
• Suprapubic or loin pain
• Rigors
• Pyrexia
• Nausea ± vomiting
• Acute confusional state - particularly elderly patients.

The differential diagnosis will depend on the presenting symptoms.

• Many of the symptoms of a UTI can be seen in women with urethral syndrome who have no bacterial infection or in post menopausal women with atrophic vaginitis and urethritis.
• Other infections of the genital tract such as with Candida albicans, Herpes simplex, Chlamydia trachmatis and Gardnerella sp. may also produce similar symptoms in some women.
• In men an enlarged or inflamed prostate may also present in a similar manner to a UTI.

Investigation of a patient with symptoms suggestive of a UTI may include:

• History - e.g. any previous UTI, sexual history, antibiotic use, any history of renal tract abnormality or diabetes, use of immunosuppressant agents such as steroids, family history of UTI.
• Examination - bladder, kidneys
• Dipstick analysis of urine - may treat as bacterial if positive results for nitrite and/or leukocytes.
• Urine microscopy - leukocytes indicate presence of infection,may be performed in the GP surgery if facilities are available.
• Urine culture - to exclude the diagnosis or if high risk e.g. pregnant, immunosuppressed, renal tract anomaly, or if failed to respond to earlier empirical treatment. Urine culture should always be performed in men with a history suggestive of UTI regardless of the results of the dipstick test.
• Asymptomatic pyuria in elderly men should not be investigated or treated.⁶

Further investigations are rarely necessary in otherwise healthy females as underlying renal tract abnormalities are uncommon even in those patients with recurrent infections.
Referral for imaging or cystoscopy should be considered in patients who:

• Have persistently not responded to treatment.
• Have a history of renal tract disease or anomaly.
• Have haematuria.
• In women with more than three confirmed infections in the last year (2 confirmed infections in the case of men).
• In addition to the above criteria, referral should be considered for men who have any suggestion of obstruction along the urinary tract e.g. enlarged prostate.⁷

Non-drug

Some women may find it helpful to be made aware of the risk factors for recurrent infection. These include:

• Use of spermicide
• Frequent sexual intercourse
• New sexual partner.

Women should also be advised to drink plenty of fluids.
There is some evidence to suggest that cranberry juice may be helpful in both the treatment and prevention of UTI.^5,8

Drug treatment

• Trimethoprim remains the drug of first choice for the empirical treatment of uncomplicated UTI, although 10-20% of E.coli infections will be resistant to it. ⁹
• Current recommendations suggest that the treatment period should be no longer than 3 days in women with uncomplicated UTI although should remain at 7 days for the treatment of UTIs in men.¹
• Other antibiotics which may be used as first line agents in patients who are allergic to trimethoprim include nitrofurantoin and cefalexin.
• Amoxycillin is not used routinely as 50% of organisms will be resistant to it.
• The use of topical oestrogen for a short period of time may be of use in post menopausal women.
• Prophylactic use of antibiotics to prevent recurrent UTI is not recommended as 50% of women will have a further infection within 3 months of stopping treatment.¹⁰
• Research is currently evaluating the possible role of probiotics and vaccines in the prevention of recurrent infections.
• Paracetamol and/or NSAIDS are of use for symptomatic relief. However recent research suggests that diclofenac may also have the capacity to treat UTI caused by E. coli.¹¹

Ascending infection can occur, leading to:

• Pyelonephritis
• Perinephric and intrarenal abscess
• Hydronephrosis or pyonephrosis
• Renal failure
• Septicaemia.

Men with UTI may also have infection of the prostate.
Complications of untreated asymptomatic bacteriuria in pregnancy include¹²:

• Pyelonephritis (in up to 40% of women)
• Preterm delivery and low-birth-weight infants
• Anaemia
• Pregnancy-induced hypertension.