Bacteriuria

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Bacteriuria is the presence of bacteria in the urine. It can be classified as either symptomatic or asymptomatic. Symptomatic bacteriuria is associated with urinary tract infection (UTI) symptoms, while asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) occurs without any symptoms.

Classification

Bacteriuria can be categorized into two main types:

• Symptomatic Bacteriuria: This type is associated with symptoms such as dysuria (painful urination), frequency (frequent urination), and urgency (urgent need to urinate).
• Asymptomatic Bacteriuria (ASB): This type occurs without any symptoms and is often detected during routine urinalysis.

Causes

Bacteriuria is commonly caused by Escherichia coli, but other bacteria such as Klebsiella, Proteus, and Enterococcus can also be responsible. The bacteria can enter the urinary tract through the urethra and multiply in the bladder.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of bacteriuria is typically made through a urine culture. A significant bacteriuria is usually defined as the presence of at least 10^5 colony-forming units (CFU) per milliliter of urine. Urinalysis can also be used to detect the presence of nitrites and leukocyte esterase, which are indicative of a bacterial infection.

Treatment

The treatment of bacteriuria depends on whether it is symptomatic or asymptomatic:

• Symptomatic Bacteriuria: This type is usually treated with antibiotics to eliminate the infection and alleviate symptoms.
• Asymptomatic Bacteriuria: Treatment is generally not required unless the patient is pregnant, undergoing urological procedures, or has certain medical conditions such as diabetes mellitus.

Complications

If left untreated, bacteriuria can lead to complications such as pyelonephritis (kidney infection), sepsis, and chronic kidney disease.

Prevention

Preventive measures include maintaining good personal hygiene, staying hydrated, and urinating regularly. In some cases, prophylactic antibiotics may be prescribed to prevent recurrent infections.

See also

• Urinary tract infection
• Pyelonephritis
• Urinalysis
• Antibiotics