URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS (UTI)

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What is a Urinary Tract Infection?
Most common ascending infection caused by bacteria and more prevalent in females than males.
Due to a females, short urethral length allowing bacteria to enter the bladder more easily than a male.

One in five women will have at least one UTI in a lifetime, with 20% of these women experiencing reoccurrences. There is a very high prevalence among the long-term care population due to polypharmacy, frequent catheterization, and incontinence.

Current Research on Medical Nutrition Therapy
2016 – Largest study to date evaluated the influence on cranberry product consumption on UTI incidence
39% reduction of clinical UTI episodes – 24-week consumption of cranberry beverage
37% reduction of UTI with pyuria episodes – 24-week consumption of cranberry beverage
Recurrent UTI
Management and prevention – eliminating risk factors that increase incidence of recurrent UTI
Antibiotic prophylaxis – most effective medical treatment

Possible causes may include
Catheters are the most common cause, diabetes/obesity, pregnancy, previous history of UTI, multiple sex partners/frequent intercourse, Incontinence, kidney stones, urethral stenosis, and medication that compromise immune system

Signs and Symptoms
Dysuria, Polyuria, blood in urine, cramps or pain in lower abdomen, chills/fever, strong smelling urine, nausea/vomiting and pain during intercourse

Manifestations due to UTI
Pyelonephritis – back pain, chills, fever, nausea, vomiting, and kidney damage

Nutritional prevention strategies:
Cranberry, Vitamin C, Methenamine salts - act as a bactericide in certain strains,
D-Mannose as normal body mechanism of inhibiting bacterial adherence to urothelial cells, and Milk Products which contain probiotic bacteria


Treatment and Medical Nutrition Therapy
1.     Increase fluid intake to a minimum of 64 ounces a day
2.     100 % Cranberry Juice of at least 8 ounces a day
3.     Yogurt with live cultures in place of milk or milk products once a day

***Although following the recommended diet will help, diet alone will not treat and prescribed antibiotics are necessary.

MA

References
Aydin, A., Ahmen, K., Zaman, I., Khan, M., & Dasgupta, P. (2015). Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections In women. The International Urogynecological Association, (26), 795-804. doi:10.1007/s00192-014-2569-5
Kontiokari, T., Laitinen, J., Jarvi, L., Pokka, T., Sundqvist, K., & Uhari, M. (2003). Dietary factors protecting women from urinary tract infection The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 77(3), 600-604.




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