UTI IN MALES: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

-Pooja Mishra
Q. What is a UTI? Is it dangerous?
A. UTI is urinary tract infection which means any part of the urinary tract may be
involved, namely the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra.
UTIs may be potentially dangerous if left untreated or partially treated. Repeated
UTIs can damage the kidney and may lead to kidney failure.

Q. Is it common for males to suffer from a UTI?

A. Yes, approximately 20% of all UTIs occur in males.
The incidence of UTI in men <50 years of age is 5-8 per year per 10,000 males.
However, UTIs become more common as the age advances.

Q. Why do UTIs occur?

A. UTIs are caused by microbes, including fungi, viruses and bacteria. However,
bacteria from the bowel are the most common cause of UTI. The most common
cause is a bacteria named Escherichia coli.

Q. Does urine normally contain infectious agents?

A. Normally, urine is sterile and free from bacteria, viruses, and fungi; however, it
usually contains fluids, salts, and waste products.

Q. How do I know if I am suffering from a UTI?

A. Some common symptoms and signs of UTI are: frequent urination; strong urges
to urinate; dribbling of urine; painful or burning sensation during or after urination;
foul smelling urine; blood in the urine(cola colored); cloudy urine or pus in the urine;
penile discharge; fever; abdominal or lower back pain. However, not all symptoms
may be present at the same time.

Q. What are the risk factors to develop a UTI?

A. Males more than 60 years of age have a greater risk.
Sexually transmitted infections may also cause UTI in males. Homosexual men and
men with multiple sexual partners are at a higher risk. In such a case, all partners
must be investigated and treated for a UTI.
Hospitalized patients or patients with a catheter are prone as well.
Holding back urine causes excessive stretching of the bladder which weakens the
muscle, causing urine to stagnate, creating a good medium for micro-organisms to
grow.
People with diabetes have a higher risk of infection because of changes in the
immune system due to the high sugar concentrations.
Underlying causes also predispose to recurrent UTIs such as stones in the urinary
tract, an enlarged prostate, narrowing of the urethra.
People with a weak immune system due to underlying conditions such as HIV AIDS
or patients on immunosuppressive agents are also at a high risk.

Q. How can a UTI be diagnosed?

A. Based on your history, the doctor will examine your abdomen and genitals and
take a urethral swab, if required. A per rectal examination may be conducted to
check for an enlarged prostate. Routinely, your doctor will ask for a urine sample. If
a sexually transmitted disease is suspected, a blood sample may be required as
well. If any underlying cause is suspected, you may be asked to get an X-ray
abdomen, abdominal ultrasound, CT abdomen or cystoscopy done.

Q. Why is a midstream urine sample required?

A. The general practice is to ask for a clean catch urine sample by washing the
genital area and collecting a midstream sample in a sterile container. This method
of collecting urine prevents bacteria around the genital area from getting into the
sample that may complicate the test results.

Q. How can UTI be treated?

A. Most of the UTIs are caused by bacteria and therefore antibiotics are used to
treat UTI.
The choice of drug and the duration of the treatment depend on the patients
history and the causative organism. It is important to complete the course of
antibiotics as sometimes the infection is still present even though the symptoms
have disappeared.
Severely ill patients with kidney infection need hospitalization.
People with an obstructive cause (e.g. kidney stone or enlarged prostate) may
require surgical correction.

Q. What are the possible complications of UTIs?

A. UTIs may cause potentially dangerous conditions such as pyelonephritis (infection
of the kidneys); prostatitis (infection of the prostate gland) and sepsis (bacteria
spread from the kidneys into the bloodstream).
Repeated UTIs may also damage the kidneys and cause kidney failure.

Q. Is UTI preventable?
A. Yes, most UTIs can be prevented. The following precautions may help in reducing
the incidence of urinary tract infections:Drink at least 2-3 liters of fluid.
Take a diet rich in Vitamin C. It makes the urine acidic, which in turn decreases the
number of bacteria.
Void urine at 2-3 hour intervals. Dont hold back urine.
Void urine before bedtime and after intercourse.