The importance of correct management of urinary tract infections

Dr. Alberto Rivero, a doctor specializing in Urology at the University Hospital of Burgos, tells us the importance of correct management of urinary infections.

Urinary infections are one of the most annoying and recurring situations that affect a large part of the population. The danger of poor management or the habit of resorting to self-medication can lead to this problem perpetuating itself, considerably increasing the number of episodes and making it a chronic disease.

What are recurrent urine infections and why do they occur?

We currently define recurrent or repeated urinary tract infection to what happens in two or more times in six months or three or more times in a year.
Multiple factors are involved in the genesis of these processes: incomplete or inadequate emptying when urinating, enduring the urge to urinate for long hours, stress processes or structural deficiencies in the mucosa of the urinary system.

Enterobacteriaceae (60-75%) are the predominant microbiological agent, E. Coli being the most common pathogen, especially when it occurs in a first infection. It is common for this problem to recurrently affect both the elderly population and middle-aged women with a significant impact on quality of life.

How to treat urine infections

The importance of a correct study, treatment and prevention of urinary tract infections (UTI) continues to be one of the fields with great room for improvement in current medicine. In the case of recurrent infections, referral to the urologist, which in addition to guiding the treatment must rule out other pathologies erroneously classified as urinary infections.

As we already know antibiotic treatment is the cornerstone In these cases, however, poor management or abuse of antibiotics can lead to an increase in resistance of the causative bacteria.

It's very important collect as far as possible, a urine culture before and after treatment. This helps us both to identify the causative pathogen and to confirm its eradication.

Another factor that must be emphasized is the type of antibiotic used (due to the growing appearance of resistance) and the Treatment duration (single-dose treatments or short cycles could be insufficient).

Current recommendations to prevent and avoid recurrent urine infections

Without a doubt, the field that deserves our greatest attention is that of prophylaxis.
Small corrections to our daily habits, a adequate study of the urinary system that allows detecting the underlying problem or the appearance of drugs that help strengthen our defense mechanisms, are currently the best way to tackle this problem.

It is important that the patient avoids seeking a quick solution to the conflict and understand that these treatments may require a long time to correct the factors that have destabilized the urinary tract.

Hygienic-dietary measures: recommendations for patients such as maintaining an appropriate water intake (2 liters daily), performing systematic urination after intercourse, anal cleansing from front to back after defecation, avoiding wearing tight clothing, etc.

Compounds based on D-Mannose: a sugar that produces saturation in the E. coli bacteria, losing its ability to adhere to the walls of the bladder.

Probiotic compounds with Lactobacillus acidophilus: In its composition they intend to restore the vaginal flora whose function is to protect the urogenital tract of bacterial infections. This flora is usually weakened by prolonged use of antibiotics.

Other Xyloglucan -based compounds: They create a muoprotective film that reduces adhesion and proliferation of pathogens in the intestine and avoid migration of bacteria to the urinary tract.

American red blueberry: They have been progressively displaced by the appearance of compounds with D-Manosa. Its consumption helps to avoid the adhesion of uropathogen bacteria such as E. coli on the urothelium wall.

Vesical instillations: (Sodium sulfate chondroitin or hyaluronic acid): They are introduced by means of a probe and act directly on the vesical walls.

Vaccines: They contain antigens from bacteria that commonly attack the urinary tract and their function is to develop an immune response against these pathogens.

Thanks to the emphasis on the Urinary infections prevention It has been achieved in many cases to eradicate the problem or decrease considerably the number of annual episodes. Acting with these prevention mechanisms, the therapeutic approach has been improved, so it is important to raise awareness of the patient to go to a Urology specialist who will mark the guidelines for a correct diagnosis and monitoring.