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  • Sponsored Q&A

    What you need to know about Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections

    Dr Trung Quach is a consultant nephrologist based in Melbourne with many years of experience in managing patients with all aspects of kidney conditions, ranging from urine infections, chronic kidney disease through to dialysis and transplantation.

    Listen to Dr Trung Quach's interview with Rob Duckworth on Talking Lifestyle below.
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    drtrungquach.com Dr Trung Quach MBBS FRACP is an experienced Consultant Nephrologist based in Melbourne, Victoria. He graduated in Medicine from the University of Western Australia … View Profile



    What is a UTI?
    Urinary tract infections (UTI) refer to an infection anywhere along the urinary tract, which encompasses the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. A bladder infection is termed cystitis and an infection in the kidneys, which is generally more serious, is called pyelonephritis. UTIs are very common infections, particularly in women and the elderly and it is important for patients to recognise what symptoms they cause and seek medical advice when it occurs.

    What are the symptoms of a UTI?
    Most patients describe pain and burning when passing urine, also termed dysuria. They may also report increased frequency of urination, cloudy or bloody urine and pain in the lower part of the abdomen. Children with UTIs can often become irritable, have a fever or feeding issues.

    Who are commonly affected by UTIs?
    Women, children and the elderly are most at risk of getting a UTI. Approximately 1 in 3 women and around 1in 20 men will have a UTI in their lifetime. Women tend to develop UTIs more often than men due to their anatomy of having a shorter and straighter urethra, allowing bacteria to travel into the bladder easier. Although less common, men can get UTIs, particularly if they are unable to empty their bladder completely from an enlarged prostate.

    Are UTI’s dangerous?
    Although the majority of UTIs can be treated with a single course of oral antibiotics, in severe infections they can become very serious and may require admission into hospital for intravenous antibiotics, particularly in elderly patients. Urosepsis is a term which describes a severe infection in the bloodstream arising from the urinary tract and needs early and prompt treatment with intravenous antibiotics.

    What is the difference between simple and recurrent UTIs?
    Recurrent UTIs are defined by having more than two infections within 6 months or three infections within 1 year. Recurrent UTIs are also common and education on strategies to prevent recurrent UTIs is very important in order to reduce exposure to multiple antibiotic courses, which can lead to antibiotic resistance over time.

    What are some prevention strategies for patients who have recurrent UTIs?
    There are a number of simple UTI prevention strategies in which patients can adopt to prevent recurrent UTIs. Drinking lots of fluids, particularly water is perhaps the simplest step to take. Avoiding the use of spermicides, voiding immediately post sexual intercourse, wiping from front to back after urination may also be beneficial. Cranberry products, which are available in tablet form as well as juice, may have some benefit as it appears to reduce the ability of bacteria to adhere to urinary tract cells. In some cases, low dose antibiotic prophylaxis over a period of 3 to 6 months may be required to help stop the cycle of recurrent UTIs.

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