What women should know about recurrent urinary tract infection

Over the past few months, Dr. Cletus Georges has shared his expertise on one of the most feared diseases among women, recurrent urinary tract infection (RUTI). For this blog, he reviews some basic information on this disease to help women understand it further.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common clinical bacterial infections that affect women. Statistically, around 5 or 6 out of every 10 women develop UTI in their lifetime.

UTI is caused mainly by the bacteria Escherichia coli. According to Dr. Cletus Georges, recurrent UTIs usually occur because of the same pathogen's reinfection, meaning that if a person develops UTI, the exact bacteria has already affected them in the past.

As far as risk factors for RUTI are concerned, frequent sexual activity is still the greatest. However, when the urinary tract is sterile, to begin with, bacteria may rise from the perianal region, which can, later, cause an infection on the urinary tract, Dr. Cletus Georges adds.

Sometimes, the pathogen may lie in the bladder, showing mild but irritating symptoms such as urinary frequency and urgency. A lesser percentage of women report extreme cases wherein the bacteria enter the bloodstream, leading to septicemia and shock. Dr. Cletus Georges adds that in very rare cases, this has led to death.

Recurring UTI may occur in the kidneys, where blood is filtered, and body waste is generated; ureters, where urine is carried from the kidneys to the bladder; the bladder, where urine is collected and stored; or the urethra, where urine is transported from the bladder and excreted from the body.

For their safety, Dr. Cletus Georges urges women to see their doctor when they feel symptoms of RUTI.

Dr. Cletus Georges completed residency in urology at Northwestern University McGaw Medical Center in 1997. He then started his practice in Sebring, Florida. For more about urology, subscribe to this page.