1

Running Header: Urinary Tract Infection

Urinary Tract Infections

Jonathan Bland
Pathophysiology
Professor Lori McGowan

2
Running Header: Urinary Tract Infection

A young 21-year old female has a burning sensation while voiding urine. She has a mild
fever. She went to the doctor. The doctors diagnosed UTI. What would the results of urine
analysis? A urinalysis is an evaluation of various components of a urine sample. It involves
looking at the urine color and clarity, using a special dipstick to do different chemical testing,
and possibly inspecting some of the urine underneath a microscope. A urinalysis usually
provides enough information for a doctor or nurse to start treatment (Univeristy of Maryland
Medical Center, 2011). Urine cultures can be performed if necessary.
What would be the complications of not treating the patient? Depending on the patient and
the severity of the UTI the patient could develop kidney failure due to damage to the kidneys.
Also the patient could develop sepsis, this is an infection that occurs throughout the body, and
results in a type of shock. This can cause stricture, which is a narrowing of the urethra due to
scars formed if the infection heals. This will cause great pain when the patient passes urine.
Also in pregnant women, the UTI may cause premature delivery of low birth weight or
premature infants.

What would you find her the blood test? If physicians suspect that bacteria other than E.
coli may be present, a Gram stain is used to help predict the species. This is a staining
procedure used to make bacteria visible through a microscope. Many bacteria are categorized
by the terms gram-positive and gram-negative. If symptoms are severe, blood cultures will be
taken to determine if the infection is in the bloodstream and threatening other parts of the
body (About.com, 2011).

3
Running Header: Urinary Tract Infection

What should be the treatment? Most often the first course of treatment with a UTI is
antibiotics. Depending on the severity of the UTI and the patient depends on the antibiotics that
should be given, if severe enough IV antibiotics can be given to stop the infection from further
progressing. Other drugs that can be given the patient help relieve the pain the patient is
suffering. Drugs like Phenazopyridine relieve pain and the burning on urination caused by the
infections. Drugs in class like Methenamine reduce bladder spasms, which may occur with
some UTIs (About.com, 2011).

4
Running Header: Urinary Tract Infection

Works Cited
About.com. (2011). Urinary Tract Infection. Retrieved March 28, 2011, from About.com:
http://adam.about.net/reports/000036_5.htm

Gould, B. E. (2006). Pathophysiology for the Health Professionals, 3rd Edition. Philadelphia: W.B.
Sauders.

Univeristy of Maryland Medical Center. (2011). Urinary Tract Infections-Diagnosis. Retrieved Mar 28,
2011, from Univeristy of Maryland Medical Center:
http://www.umm.edu/patiented/articles/which_tests_will_confirm_diagnosis_of_urinary_tract
_infections_000036_6.htm