As females, our anatomy makes us more susceptible to bladder infections (cystitis) or urinary tract infections (UTIs). The urethra that leads from our urinary bladder to the outside of the body is very short compared to that of the man. That means that bacteria have an easier path to enter the body and to cause an infection.
As we age, there are things that occur as a normal process. With menopause, the chemical balance of the vagina changes and leads to more infections. With pregnancy, the pelvic muscles get stretches and are less strong. We may also have lost control of our bladder which makes us more susceptible because of hygiene issues.
Most senior women have bacteria in their urine. This is called bacteriuria. Usually, the urine is sterile, but because of the things mentioned above, bacteria can enter the bladder. The presence of bacteriuria does not mean that there is an infection. Treatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria (bacteria in the urine without symptoms) is a major issue because of inappropriate antibiotic use. When a real UTI occurs, the bacteria are no longer susceptible.
For an individual to have a urinary tract infection, there are some specific things that need to be present. If not, the diagnosis is asymptomatic bacteriuria. Some of the critical symptoms include:
Acute confusion may or may not be from a UTI. Only urine testing with culture to demonstrate the kind and number of bacteria is diagnostic and requires antibiotics. This takes about 48 hours.
Advocate for you and your loved ones. Antibiotics carry a risk and must be used judiciously. Overtreatment is a major cause of bacterial resistance. It also adds cost to the care system that can be alleviated without risk to the patient. Contact me for more information about urinary tract infections.