URINARY SYSTEM PATHOLOGIES
URINARY TRACT INFECTION
1. Urinary Tract Infections
Women are at a higher risk for the development of a UTI because of having a
shorter urethra.
True
False
2. Lower Urinary Tract Infections
A symptom of a lower urinary tract infection includes: #
Decreased Urination#
Urgency
Fever#
Flank pain#
3. Complicated Urinary Tract Infections
Which of the following is true regarding a complicated urinary tract infection?
Can be caused by a structural urinary tract disorder
Is associated with young adults#
Bacteria is located mostly in the lower urinary tract#
It is usually asymptomatic#
4. Preventing UTIs
Which of the following can help to prevent a UTI?#
Taking more Vitamin D#
Increase water consumption
Use spermicides during sexual intercourse#
Douching to prevent the growth of bacteria#
, 5. Urinary Tract Infection
Which of the following is a risk factor for the development of a urinary tract
infection (UTI)? #
Frequent showering#
Marathon running#
Perimenopause#
Pregnancy#
6. Uncomplicated vs. Complicated Urinary Tract Infections (UTI) #
A UTI may be classified as complicated or uncomplicated in terms of its
severity. An uncomplicated UTI indicates that the urinary tract and renal
, function is normal. In a complicated UTI, there is decreased renal function
and an abnormal urinary tract. In differentiating between a lower and upper
UTI above, the presence of WBC casts indicates the presence of kidney
involvement which requires a more complicated treatment plan. The patient
is also at higher risk for extensive and permanent kidney damage as well as
sepsis. If sepsis is suspected, a blood culture may be drawn to identify the
causative organism or rule it out. #
The severity of the UTI can also be determined based on the interventions
that are necessary to treat the infection. The more intervention required, the
more complicated the infection. In general, individuals are treated for a UTI
only when they are symptomatic. Although the urine results may confirm a
UTI, if the patient denies symptoms, then an antibiotic is not prescribed. The
exception would be during pregnancy due to the ureteral dilation that occurs
that increases the risk for pyelonephritis. Even though she may be
asymptomatic, treatment would be initiated to prevent damage to the fetus
in utero. #An uncomplicated, symptomatic UTI (cystitis) will typically require a
3-7 days course of appropriate antibiotic therapy. A complicated UTI
(pyelonephritis) will require intravenous (IV antibiotics) until the patient is
afebrile, followed by a course of oral antibiotics. Overall, the course of
antibiotics for a complicated infection is longer than in an individual that has
an uncomplicated infection. #
Intervention may also require the assistance of specialists in the case of#a
complicated UTI. A referral to a urologist is necessary if the individual does
not respond to antibiotic treatment or if there are recurrent UTIs, specifically
3 or more in one year. Because upper UTI is uncommon in males, they should
be referred to a urologist. Finally, the presence of hematuria would warrant a
referral to the urologist to determine the presence of significant renal
disease. #
Finally, sometimes the patient’s presentation can seem complicated when
examining the patient who has symptoms like a UTI but may be something
else. For example, when there is vaginal discharge or itching involved, the NP
may need to include a genital exam as well to rule out or diagnose a sexually
transmitted infection (STI). #
From the summary below identify if each aspect is part of a complicated or
uncomplicated UTI.
Occurs in the normal urinary tract# Uncomplicated UTI
A UTI that extends beyond the bladder Complicated UTI
Caused by structural or functional urinary tract
abnormalities or untreated UTI# Complicated UTI
Responds well to a short course of antibiotic
therapy# Uncomplicated UTI
URINARY TRACT INFECTION
1. Urinary Tract Infections
Women are at a higher risk for the development of a UTI because of having a
shorter urethra.
True
False
2. Lower Urinary Tract Infections
A symptom of a lower urinary tract infection includes: #
Decreased Urination#
Urgency
Fever#
Flank pain#
3. Complicated Urinary Tract Infections
Which of the following is true regarding a complicated urinary tract infection?
Can be caused by a structural urinary tract disorder
Is associated with young adults#
Bacteria is located mostly in the lower urinary tract#
It is usually asymptomatic#
4. Preventing UTIs
Which of the following can help to prevent a UTI?#
Taking more Vitamin D#
Increase water consumption
Use spermicides during sexual intercourse#
Douching to prevent the growth of bacteria#
, 5. Urinary Tract Infection
Which of the following is a risk factor for the development of a urinary tract
infection (UTI)? #
Frequent showering#
Marathon running#
Perimenopause#
Pregnancy#
6. Uncomplicated vs. Complicated Urinary Tract Infections (UTI) #
A UTI may be classified as complicated or uncomplicated in terms of its
severity. An uncomplicated UTI indicates that the urinary tract and renal
, function is normal. In a complicated UTI, there is decreased renal function
and an abnormal urinary tract. In differentiating between a lower and upper
UTI above, the presence of WBC casts indicates the presence of kidney
involvement which requires a more complicated treatment plan. The patient
is also at higher risk for extensive and permanent kidney damage as well as
sepsis. If sepsis is suspected, a blood culture may be drawn to identify the
causative organism or rule it out. #
The severity of the UTI can also be determined based on the interventions
that are necessary to treat the infection. The more intervention required, the
more complicated the infection. In general, individuals are treated for a UTI
only when they are symptomatic. Although the urine results may confirm a
UTI, if the patient denies symptoms, then an antibiotic is not prescribed. The
exception would be during pregnancy due to the ureteral dilation that occurs
that increases the risk for pyelonephritis. Even though she may be
asymptomatic, treatment would be initiated to prevent damage to the fetus
in utero. #An uncomplicated, symptomatic UTI (cystitis) will typically require a
3-7 days course of appropriate antibiotic therapy. A complicated UTI
(pyelonephritis) will require intravenous (IV antibiotics) until the patient is
afebrile, followed by a course of oral antibiotics. Overall, the course of
antibiotics for a complicated infection is longer than in an individual that has
an uncomplicated infection. #
Intervention may also require the assistance of specialists in the case of#a
complicated UTI. A referral to a urologist is necessary if the individual does
not respond to antibiotic treatment or if there are recurrent UTIs, specifically
3 or more in one year. Because upper UTI is uncommon in males, they should
be referred to a urologist. Finally, the presence of hematuria would warrant a
referral to the urologist to determine the presence of significant renal
disease. #
Finally, sometimes the patient’s presentation can seem complicated when
examining the patient who has symptoms like a UTI but may be something
else. For example, when there is vaginal discharge or itching involved, the NP
may need to include a genital exam as well to rule out or diagnose a sexually
transmitted infection (STI). #
From the summary below identify if each aspect is part of a complicated or
uncomplicated UTI.
Occurs in the normal urinary tract# Uncomplicated UTI
A UTI that extends beyond the bladder Complicated UTI
Caused by structural or functional urinary tract
abnormalities or untreated UTI# Complicated UTI
Responds well to a short course of antibiotic
therapy# Uncomplicated UTI
