Kidney Infections

Kidney Infections

Intro

Situated just below the ribcage, the kidneys act as a powerful filter for our bodies. A healthy person’s kidneys are able to filter, on average, 1,700 liters of blood each day (3). This process removes toxins and cellular waste products from our bloodstream; most of this is excreted via the urinary system. While it is a complex system, there are three main parts: the urethra, the bladder, and the kidneys. It’s important to keep our kidneys healthy, because they are responsible for: regulating blood pressure, maintaining proper electrolyte balance, keeping us free from excess cellular waste and toxins, and making sure that we have enough water in our bloodstream at any given time (2). Fun fact: as long as it functions efficiently, a person can live with only one kidney!

About Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)

A UTI occurs when harmful bacteria infiltrate the urinary system and wreak havoc on the urethra, bladder, and/or kidneys. There are more than three million instances of UTIs every year in the US, and it is among the most common types of infections in the world. When a person does not begin treatment for their UTI in time, it can lead to irreversible kidney damage or kidney failure (1). That is rare, of course. The vast majority of the time, UTIs can be treated effectively with medication. They typically clear up within a few weeks. A kidney infection (pyelonephritis) is one type of UTI, and it tends to be more severe.

Signs & Symptoms

Each individual has different symptoms. These include but are not limited to: burning upon urination, frequent urination, urgency with urination, fever, tenderness in the lower back, blood in the urine, and foul-smelling urine. Many people also experience fatigue; this happens because your body is working hard to fight off the infection. It takes a lot of energy for your body to get rid of an infection, and sometimes you cannot do it without the help of medication. The faster you see a doctor and start treatment, the more likely it is that your UTI will go away without any long-term effects. 

Diagnosis & Treatment

There are several ways to diagnose a UTI, but the most accessible choice is a dipstick with a urine culture. This can be performed at any doctor’s office or walk-in clinic, as it only requires a small urine sample. The dipstick provides immediate results, but is not 100% accurate. This is why it should be combined with a urine culture; it takes a few days to get the results for a culture, but it is a more accurate diagnosing tool. Culturing also provides your doctor with information about what type of bacteria may be causing your infection. With that information, they can prescribe the most effective antibiotic for your particular case (4). This is important, because prescribing the wrong antibiotic can lead to complications.

Treatment

If your dipstick test comes back positive and you exhibit several UTI symptoms, you will likely be started on antibiotics that same day. If your dipstick is negative and you don’t exhibit several UTI symptoms, you may need to wait until the cultures come back before beginning antibiotics. This is entirely up to your doctor; there is a delicate balance between getting infections treated quickly and not creating more problems by over-using antibiotics. For recurring UTIs, some patients are prescribed long-term, low-dose antibiotics. This is not ideal, but it is the best option that we have right now. For acute UTIs, the course of antibiotics is much shorter – only a week or two.

Potential Complications

As previously stated, untreated UTIs can cause permanent kidney damage. Another issue is recurring infections; sometimes, a UTI turns into a chronic condition. There is also the possibility of developing sepsis (this is when the infection-causing bacteria from the urinary tract make their way into the blood, causing a systemic infection). Not all UTIs are kidney infections, but most kidney infections develop as a result of an infection in the urethra or bladder. In males, UTIs can play a role in prostatitis (swelling of the prostate). In pregnant females, having a UTI can trigger preterm labor (6). 

Prevention

Nearly half of adult females will develop at least one UTI (5). It isn’t nearly as common in adult males, and is relatively uncommon in children. There are several types of bacteria that can lead to a UTI, and it can’t always be prevented. However, there are three general recommendations that can be made regarding UTI prevention. First, always pee after sex. Second, always wipe from front to back; E. coli accounts for most UTI cases. Third, stay hydrated and don’t “hold it” for very long; go when you need to go! 

Cranberry Juice

Using cranberry juice to prevent UTIs is controversial; this is due to conflicting scientific research studies. Some studies found that ingestion of cranberry juice does indeed decrease the risk of UTIs, but other studies found that it makes no difference (7). What we do know for sure is that using cranberry juice is not harmful, so it is up to you whether or not you want to do so. Many people find that it tastes bitter, so keep in mind that there are cranberry capsules and tablets that you can buy at most pharmacies. 

Take-Home Message

Our kidneys are crucial when it comes to ridding our bodies of cellular waste products and toxins from the environment. One thing that can cause permanent kidney damage is a kidney infection; this is a type of UTI that progresses to one or both kidneys. Most cases are easily treatable with a course of antibiotics, though in rare cases, complications can occur. Females are more prone to UTIs, but anybody can develop one at any time. Staying hydrated is one great way to help prevent UTIs from occurring.