What Type Of Bacteria Causes Urinary Tract Infection?

Urinary tract infection is caused by a bacteria called Escherichia coli (E. coli). Doctors usually treat urinary tract infections with antibiotics. On the other hand, you can take steps to lessen your chances of getting the infection in the first place.

What is Urinary Tract Infection and Its Causes?

Urinary tract infection is an infection of your urinary system including kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. Most infections may involve the lower urinary tract such as the bladder and the urethra. 

The different types of urinary tract infection can include:

• Urethritis
• Cystitis
• Pyelonephritis 
• Urethritis
• Vaginitis 

This type of infection is caused by micro-organisms, usually bacteria. In the urinary tract, bacteria do not normally live. UTIs occur when bacteria multiply in the urinary tract.

Urinary infections and cystitis can be caused by a variety of germs. Escherichia coli (E.coli) is the most common germ that causes urinary tract infections. The urethra lining can easily become infected with E.coli. When the urine flows back up from the bladder to the kidneys or when the urinary flow is blocked, some people are at greater risk of infection.

Common Symptoms of Urinary Tract Infection

• Want to urinate more often and urgently 
• Burning pain when urinating
• A feeling that the bladder is still full after urinating
• Pain above the pubic bone
• Cloudy, bloody, or very smelly urine

Complications of Urinary Tract Infection

When a urinary tract infection is left untreated, it can have serious consequences such as:

• Recurrent infections in women who experience two or more urinary tract infections in six months or four or more within a year.
• Permanent kidney damage from an acute or chronic kidney infection (pyelonephritis) because of an untreated urinary tract infection.
• Urethral narrowing (stricture) in men from recurrent urethritis that is previously seen with gonococcal urethritis.
• Increased risk in pregnant women of delivering premature infants or low birth weight. 
• Sepsis is a potentially life-threatening complication of an infection, especially if the infection works its way up your urinary tract to your kidneys. 

Prevention of Urinary Tract Infection

These prevention tips may be useful in reducing the risk of developing urinary tract infection:

• Drink plenty of water and other fluids to flush the urinary system 
• Go to the toilet as soon as you feel the urge to urinate, rather than holding
• Avoid potentially irritating feminine products
• Empty your bladder soon after intercourse

Treatment for Urinary Tract Infection

Urinary tract infections are very serious, especially if you suspect you may have a bladder infection or kidney infection, both of which are very dangerous. It is possible to prevent urinary infections from spreading to the bladder or kidneys if they are treated early.

You will be tested for microorganisms in your urine by your doctor. Antibiotics are usually effective in treating urinary tract infections.

• Sulfamethoxazole and Trimethoprim – this is a combined antibiotic medication that works by eliminating the bacteria that cause many kinds of infections including urinary tract infections.