urinary tract infection

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The most common cause of urinary tract infection is invasion into the urethra of Escherichia coli, a type of bacterium that normally inhabits the bowel.

Bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa can cause infections of the urethra and bladder. These infections occur more often in women than in men and are typically associated with significant pain and distress.

Escherichia coli and other organisms that cause urinary tract infections can be isolated and identified from urine samples using laboratory culture techniques.

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Treatment

inurinary tract infection

Also known as: UTI

Written by Kara Rogers

Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: Nov 29, 2024 • Article History

Related Topics:: renal system disease

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News •

UTIs are extraordinarily common but kidney infections are not—now doctors know why • Nov. 24, 2024, 9:55 PM ET (Medical Xpress)

UTI is usually treated with sulfonamides or other antibiotics, such as amoxicillin, ciprofloxacin, ampicillin, or nitrofurantoin. In addition, an analgesic (pain-relieving) agent such as pyridium is typically prescribed to reduce pain during urination. Recurrent infections often require long-term antibiotic therapy; however, in acute cases involving obstruction of the ureter, infection cannot be successfully eradicated by antibiotics until the obstruction is removed. In some cases, women with recurrent UTI may be given an antibiotic to take immediately following sexual intercourse in order to prevent infection. Postmenopausal women who experience frequent UTIs may benefit from the use of a vaginal estrogen cream that prevents thinning of the vaginal epithelium.