Urinary tract infection resident survival guide

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Ogheneochuko Ajari, MB.BS, MS [2]

Introduction

A urinary tract infection is a bacterial infection that affects any part of the urinary tract.

Causes

Life Threatening Causes

Life-threatening causes include conditions which may result in death or permanent disability within 24 hours if left untreated.

Urinary tract infection does not have life threatening causes.

Common Causes

Management

Shown below is an algorithm depicting the initial approach to UTI.

 
 
 
Characterize the symptoms:
Fever
Dysuria
Frequent urination
❑ Suprapubic pain
Hematuria
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Nausea
Flank pain or back pain
❑ Weak stream
❑ Hesistancy
Nocturia
❑ Chills
Urethral discharge
Obtain a detailed history:
Use of urinary catheters
Pregnancy
Diabetes
❑ Female and sexually active
❑ Renal problems
❑ Menopausal
Sickle cell disease
Elderly
❑ Antibiotic use
❑ Urogynecologic surgery
Urinary retention
Urinary incontinence
❑ Anatomic malformations of the urinary tract
❑ Increased susceptibility to UTIs
❑ Allergies to latex condoms or spermicices
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Examine the patient:
❑ Suprapubic tenderness
❑ Flank pain or costovertebral angle tenderness
❑ Tender prostate
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consider alternative diagnosis:
Urethritis
Prostatitis
❑ Renal abscess
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Order tests:
Urine culture
Urinalysis
Blood culture
❑ Abdominal CT
❑ Renal ultrasound scan
Voiding cystourethrogram
Intravenous pyelogram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 







 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Do's

Dont's

References