1. WHY DOES SOMEONE GET A URINARY TRACT INFECTION? By: Meredith Walker

2. WHAT IS A UTI? HOW SERIOUS CAN IT GET? It is Urinary Tract Infection, so an infection in the urinary tract. These infections are caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi Microbes Bacteria is the most common source of the infection Normally these types of bacteria are rapidly removed before they cause infection, but sometimes the bacteria gets so built up the body can’t defend itself against the bacteria and it causes urethritis UTI’s can get serious if not treated properly Chronic Kidney Infections: (kidney scars, poorly functioning kidneys, high blood pressure) Some Acute Kidney Infections that can cause death, for instance if the bacteria gets into the bloodstream, you could contract septicemia. http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudi seases/pubs/utiadult/#treatmen t

3. MOST COMMON CAUSES OF UTI Going from most common to least common Escherichia coli (E. coli)- generally harmless Originates in the intestines, if it invades and colonizes in the bladder then it will cause an infection Staphylococcus saporphyticus- accounts for 5-15% of UTI’s (common in younger women) It is a “coagulase-negative facultative species”(Wikipedia.org): means the coagulase test is to differentiate between two forms of coagulase (bound and free) Klebsiella, Enterococci, and Proteus mirabilis- these are generally found in older women These are known as the Proteus species, apart of the intestinal tract and around hospitals The more rare types include: Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis- These are typically harmless organisms Reside in the respiratory and urogenital tract, they can and do infect the bloodstream http://en.wikipedia.org /wiki/Coagulase

4. PREVENTION OF UTI’S Most UTI’s are prevented by taking medications to fight off the bacteria (antibiotics) The medicine is chosen based on the patient, and severity of the infection Un-complicated UTI is most common- lasts for 2-3 days Single- dose treatment is most effective, if you use long treatment it could cause more side effects There are complicated UTI’s that occur when the person has another weakened condition or structural problem with their urinary tract Prevent UTI’s by drinking lots of water and cranberry juice The water and or cranberry juice is supposed to make your pee diluted and then will flush out the infection Cranberry Juice is said to hold a substance that prevents E. Coli from sticking to the bladder lining Reduction of sodas and caffeine can help eliminate UTI’s because they are known to irritate the urethra www.nuhospitals.com

5. CITATIONS Clinic, Mayo. "Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)." Causes. Mayo Clinic, 29 Aug. 2012. Web. 26 Jan. 2015.. "Coagulase." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 20 Nov. 2014. Web. 26 Jan. 2015.. Gonzalez, Gus, MD. "Proteus Infections." Proteus Infections. MedScape, 30 Oct. 2014. Web. 26 Jan. 2015.. "National Kidney and Urologic DiseasesInformation Clearinghouse (NKUDIC)." Urinary Tract Infections in Adults. National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information, 24 May 2012. Web. 26 Jan. 2015.. Rosenblum, Nirit. "Urology." Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections. NYU Langone, n.d. Web. 26 Jan. 2015.. Simon, Harvey, MD. "Urinary Tract Infection." University of Maryland Medical Center. University of Maryland Medical Center, 26 Aug. 2014. Web. 25 Jan. 2015.. "Urinary Tract Infections." Urinary Tract Infections. Trustees of Dartmouth College, 2015. Web. 26 Jan. 2015.. Waites, Ken B., MD. "Ureaplasma Infection." Ureaplasma Infection. Medscape, 25 Sept. 2014. Web. 26 Jan. 2015.. Wong, Paul. "Staphylococcus Saprophyticus." - MicrobeWiki. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Jan. 2015..