Urinary tract infection - chronic or recurrent

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Female urinary tract

Male urinary tract

Vesicoureteral reflux

Voiding cystourethrogram

UTI - chronic or recurrent

• Pressure in the lower pelvis
• Painful urination (dysuria)
• Frequent need to urinate (frequency)
• Urgent need to urinate (urgency)
• Need to urinate at night
• Abnormal urine color -- cloudy
• Blood in the urine (hematuria)
• Foul or strong urine odor

Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Fever
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Chills
• Mental changes or confusion. (In elderly people, mental changes or confusion often are the only signs of a possible urinary tract infection.)

Chronic or recurrent urinary tract infection means one of the following is true:

• Symptoms return 2 or more times in 6 months
• Symptoms of a single episode last longer than 2 weeks
• Symptoms last longer than 48 hours after treatment has begun

Tests that may be done include:

• A urinalysis -- commonly reveals white blood cells (WBC) or red blood cells (RBC).
• A urine culture (clean catch) or catheterized urine specimen -- may reveal bacteria in the urine. A urine culture that is positive for more than 2 weeks even with treatment indicates chronic or recurrent UTI.
• An abdominal ultrasound or KUB (abdominal x-ray) -- may be needed to evaluate the status of the renal system (kidneys, ureters, and bladder).

Review Date: 11/07/2005
Reviewed By: Cyrus Badshah, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University; Assistant Attending Physician, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases & Medical Director, Chest (TB) Clinic and Directly Observed Therapy Program, Harlem Hospital Center. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.