NURS 6501N
Week 10
Initial discussion
The urinary tract produces and stores urine and transport urine to the point of excretion. It is one of the waste products of the body that is made in the kidneys and goes down the ureters to the bladder until the point that it is drained through the urethra, a tube that attaches the bladder to the skin when someone urinates (Urology Care Foundation, 2017). The urinary system bot only eliminates waste from the body, but as well as regulates blood volume and blood pressure, control levels of electrolytes metabolites, and regulate blood pH. Because of the anatomical structure and relationship of the renal and urinary organs, a severe urinary tract infection can harm the kidneys and whenever left untreated could cause a severe systemic reaction. Annually, urinary tract infections cause over 8.1 million visits to health care providers (Urology Care Foundation, 2017). A urinary tract infection is an inflammation of the urinary epithelium mostly caused by bacteria from gut flora which could happen anyplace along the urinary tract including the urethra, prostate, bladder, ureter, or kidney (Huether & McCance, 2017, p. 753). The symptoms showed by urinary tract infection might differ from individual-to-individual and by the organ of the urinary tract influenced. Because of the occurrence and the conceivable complexities that could risk the someone’s health status, advanced practice nurses should thoroughly comprehend the pathophysiology of various sorts of urinary tract infection and the effect of patient factors associated with the condition. This week discussion will be about comparing the pathophysiology of lower and upper urinary tract infections, evaluating the impact of patient factors on the progression and management of the ailment.
Lower Urinary Tract Infection
The lower urinary tract infection is a more typical kind of condition that influences the lower part of the urinary tract, for example, the urethra and urinary bladder (Sepsis Alliance, 2017). Bowel bacteria might live on the skin close to the anus or in the vagina which could spread and enter the urinary tract through the urethra, and if rise to the urethra, they might cause a bladder infection called cystitis (American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 2015). The structure of the human body makes easier to acquire bacterial urinary tract infection as the infection originates from outside through the urethra, these bacteria in the genital region could make their way into the urinary tract from cleaning up after using the restroom, sexual activity, or unsanitary conditions (Sepsis Alliance, 2017). Since the urethral and bladder regions are the parts that could be exposed initially to the organism, lower urinary tract infections are more common than the upper urinary tract infections. Urinary tract infections that happen only in the urethra are called urethritis while bladder infections are called cystitis (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, 2017). In lower urinary tract infections, the bladder lining and urethra can turn out to be red and irritated which could cause the aching, burning sensation, and the urge of increase in urgency and regularity of urination (Urology Care Foundation, 2017). If lower urinary tract infections are left untreated, it could go to different organs of the urinary tract, for example, kidneys and ureters.
Upper Urinary Tract Infection
An upper urinary tract infection might cause a more severe ailment than the lower urinary tract infection which can happen as microbes that have tainted the bladder may head out to the upper urinary tract that is comprised of the ureters and the kidneys (American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 2015). Pyelonephritis is an infection of the upper urinary tract (ureter, renal pelvis, and interstitium which might include one or both kidneys (Huether & McCance, 2017, p. 754). The pyelonephritis symptoms might incorporate fever, chills, pain in the back region, side or groin, nausea, vomiting, dark, cloudy, bloody or smelly urine and frequent, painful urination (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, 2017). Kidney infections should be treated promptly as the condition could rapidly spread into the bloodstream and cause a life-threatening medical problem (Urology Care Foundation, 2017). Whenever left untreated, pyelonephritis could prompt a more severe systemic condition like sepsis or chronic kidney damage.
Similarities and Differences
Urinary and lower urinary tract infection can be treated with an antibiotic if caused by bacteria, and antifungal whenever caused fungal infections (Sepsis Alliance, 2017). When symptoms are observed and reported to health care providers, urinalysis can confirm the existence of urinary tract infection and urine culture can be obtained to prescribed proper medicines (Urology Care Foundation, 2017). Although differentiating upper and lower urinary tract infection might be difficult, imaging tests, like, a computed tomography scan, ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, or ultrasound could help in diagnosing a kidney infection (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, 2017). Although lower and upper urinary tract infections could be managed with antibiotics, management of upper urinary tract infections might take more time to treat and might require hospitalization including intravenous medicines (American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 2015). Early identification of symptoms and management of both lower and upper urinary tract infection is essential to prevent further complications that might cause chronic disorders and lead a systemic health condition like sepsis which can prompt irreversible harms even up to untimely death.
Patient Factors
Numerous factors can increase the risks of getting urinary tract infections and influence the effectiveness of managing the condition. Around ten out of twenty-five women and three of every twenty-five men would have symptoms of somewhat one urinary tract infection all through their lifetime (Urology Care Foundation, 2017). Women have a higher risk of getting the infection. Because of the anatomical structure of female gender, bacteria can reach women’s bladder easily as the women urethra is shorter than that of a man (American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 2015). As well as gender, age can increase the risks of getting the infection. During menopause, the level of estrogen reduces which can cause changes in the tissues around the urethra that could prompt urinary tract infection (American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 2015). Although women and older age can increase the odds of getting urinary tract infection, individual conduct and habits could primarily influence someone’s risks and capability to deal with the infection. Changing some of the everyday practices and lifestyle decisions might help in preventing repeated urinary tract infections by drinking enough liquids and proper cleanliness (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, 2017). Because of the structural factor that increases the female gender to be in risk of having urinary tract infection, additional caution on proper gynecological cleanliness including practices once sexually active, for example, urinating and washing after intercourse and careful consideration of family planning measures ought to be talked about with healthcare professionals to prevent the incidence of urinary tract infections.
Reference
American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. (2015). Urinary Tract Infections
(UTIs). Retrieved from https://www.acog.org/Patients/FAQs/Urinary-Tract-Infections-UTIs
Huether, S. E., & McCance, K. L. (2017). Understanding pathophysiology (6th ed.). St. Louis,
MO: Mosby.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. (2017). Bladder
Infection (Urinary Tract Infection—UTI) in Adults. Retrieved from https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/urologic-diseases/bladder-infection-uti-in-adults/definition-facts
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. (2017). Kidney
Infection (Pyelonephritis). Retrieved from https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/urologic-diseases/kidney-infection-pyelonephritis/all-content
Sepsis Alliance. (2017). Sepsis and Urinary Tract Infections. Retrieved from
https://www.sepsis.org/sepsis-and/urinary-tract-infections/
Urology Care Foundation. (2017). What is a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) in Adults? Retrieved
from https://www.urologyhealth.org/urologic-conditions/urinary-tract-infections-in-adults/printable-version

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