The Urology Center Glossary terms

Bladder Infection:

The term urinary tract infection (UTI) generally means a bacterial invasion of a particular part of the urinary tract or even the entire urinary tract. Bladder infection obviously means an infection isolated to a particular part of the urinary tract, the bladder.

The urinary tract includes the kidneys, ureters (the tubes between the kidneys and the bladder), bladder, urethra (the tube between the bladder and the outside) and, in men, the prostate. The term UTI implies an infection of some or every portion of this body system. When specific parts of the urinary tract become inflamed (but not necessarily infected) particular medical names are assigned:

kidney inflammation -- pyelonephritis

bladder inflammation -- cystitis

prostate inflammation -- prostatitis

urethra inflammation -- urethritis

(See glossary term "inflammation").

Bladder infections are generally caused by bacteria displaced from the gastrointestinal tract (the stool). In women, gastrointestinal tract bacteria become adherent to the lining of the vaginal opening. From there, the bacteria may easily become transmitted into the bladder through the short female urethra.

Simple bacterial bladder infections in sexually active adult women are very common and generally are not of great cause for concern. A short three day course of antibiotics speeds recovery. In fact, most cases of simple bacterial cystitis may be alleviated with just one antibiotic pill.

The standard treatment of simple bladder infection in women is a three-day course of antibiotics. Use of antibiotics for longer than three days simply promotes side effects like vaginitis.

The standard treatment of simple bladder infection in women is a three-day course of antibiotics. Use of antibiotics for longer than three days simply promotes side effects like vaginitis. Longer courses of antibiotics tend to destroy the natural protective lining of the vagina, allowing the growth of yeast in its place. Symptoms of vaginitis include vaginal burning near the urethra. Vaginitis symptoms are commonly confused with symptoms of bladder infection. However, vaginitis produces burning just after urination, as well as during urination. An additional ill-effect of long courses of antibiotics is the development of antibiotic resistance. This can be a dangerous situation.

Bladder infections in any male, any child and any older adult female certainly are causes for concern and reason to see the urologist.

Bladder infections in any male, any child and any older adult female certainly are causes for concern and reason to see the urologist. Some doctors apparently feel that one or two bladder infections in young children is acceptable. However, in cases where there is an underlying anatomical abnormality of the urinary tract, bladder infection may lead to severe and permanent damage to the kidneys. Reflux of urine backward into the kidneys is not uncommon in these situations. Reflux and other urinary tract developmental abnormalities are potentially serious medical problems. We feel that all bladder infections in children should first be cultured and treated, then investigated by a urology specialist in hopes of preventing future problems.

Postmenopausal women who develop bladder infections are more commonly found to have ... a deficiency of estrogen ...

Postmenopausal women who develop bladder infections are more commonly found to have associated underlying abnormalities. One of the more common associated abnormalities is atrophic vaginitis. Atrophic vaginitis results from a lack of normal level of circulating female hormone, estrogen. A deficiency of estrogen causes what might be best described as drying and contraction of vaginal tissues. Effectively, the vaginal tissues become unhealthy, allowing the adherence of bacteria and the promotion of recurrent bladder infections. Vaginal mucosal atrophy eventually may lead to narrowing of the vaginal opening, infections, inflammation and even a vaginal mass called a caruncle. Caruncles commonly require surgery.

Any bladder infection occurring in a male of any age should be thoroughly investigated by a urologist.

Any bladder infection occurring in a male of any age should be thoroughly investigated by a urologist. These infections are often signs of more significant and potentially dangerous underlying problems. These problems may include reflux of urine backward into the kidneys, anatomical defects, prostatitis, stones or even cancer.

To diagnose a bladder infection with certainty, a urine culture must be performed.

To diagnose a bladder infection with certainty, a urine culture must be performed (see the glossary term "culture"). A urine culture differs from a simple urine analysis. The term urine analysis means that the urine has been chemically analyzed and, in many cases, microscopically analyzed for substances such as red blood cells, white blood cells, glucose and microscopically visible bacteria. A quick urine analysis serves to guide the physician to a provisional or short-term diagnosis. However, confirmation of the diagnosis awaits the final results of a urine culture 1-3 days later. It is important for patients to call or follow-up with their doctors concerning urine cultures 1-3 days after the cultures are performed.

After bacteria are grown on culture, the bacteria are usually tested for sensitivity to specific antibiotics in an attempt to identify the specific antibiotic which works best to kill the particular bacteria. For this reason, it is sometimes necessary to change antibiotics in the middle of a course of treatment, in the interest of providing the best antibiotic for the particular bacteria causing the infection.

Finally, we should clear up a confusing point. Patients often state that they have had a "kidney infection" (pyelonephritis) when they really mean that they have had a bladder infection (cystitis) or bladder inflammation (also called cystitis). Pyelonephritis is a much more serious illness which often involves fever, chills, nausea, vomiting and flank pain. Because pyelonephritis usually includes infection of the kidney as well as the bladder, the symptoms of pyelonephritis also include symptoms of a simple bladder infection such as lower abdominal discomfort, urge to urinate, frequency of urination and burning with urination. Pyelonephritis requires investigation by a urologist in most all cases. Therefore patients should be a precise as they be, when speaking about their "infections".

(See related glossary terms: "urine analysis", "inflammation", "culture", "infection", "prostatitis", "urine analysis", "urinary tract infection", "kidney infection", "reflux").