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Dear Sun Doc
What causes recurrent UTIs?Although I do not have any signs of disease, every time a urine test is done, it is positive for a Urinary Tract infection (UTI). Even after treatment, the test still comes back positive. Should my husband get treated as well? Nkamo
Dear Nkamo
A UTI affects the urinary system (kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra), and is largely caused by bacteria from the anus.
Much as it can affect anybody, women usually suffer the most from UTIs due to their anatomy that has a short urethra, which is located closer to the anus. Here, there are lots of bacteria that may easily enter through the urethra and cause a UTI.
It is good for one to often pass urine through the urethra so that this urine flushes out the germs and keep one from getting a UTI.
Women usually either hold their urine too long or do not take enough fluids to help them urinate often.
Also, women’s hormonal fluctuations during their menstrual cycle, menopause and pregnancy (including blockage of urine drainage during pregnancy) may increase the likelihood of UTI infections.
Much as their occurrence increases with a woman’s increased sexual activity, UTIs are not considered sexually transmitted. So, treating your husband together with you is unlikely to lessen the frequency of infections.
Symptoms of a UTI may vary, but usually include painful urination, frequent but passage of a small amount of urine, a sudden urge to pass urine, lower abdominal pain and cloudy urine, among others.
A number of people, including those with diabetes, may have a UTI but without symptoms (asymptomatic urinary infection) and this could have been the reason you were found to have a UTI but without associated symptoms.
When one often suffers from a UTI, it is necessary to do a urinary culture and sensitivity on the urine so that more effective drugs are given since resistance by germs to many antibiotics is now common.
A clean catch urine sample, where the middle urine is collected may also be necessary to reduce vaginal fluid contaminated urine which may falsely indicate the presence of a UTI whereas not.