Health Encyclopedia

Cystitis - acute

Definition

Acute cystitis is a bacterial infection of the bladder or lower urinary tract. Acute means sudden or severe.

Alternative Names

Uncomplicated urinary tract infection; UTI - acute; Acute bladder infection; Acute bacterial cystitis;

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Acute cystitis occurs when the lower urinary tract (urethra and bladder) become infected by bacteria. Most cases are caused by Escherichia coli (E. coli), a bacteria found in the intestines. When you urinate, you help remove bacteria from the bladder. However, sometimes the bacteria grow so fast that some remains in the bladder.

Cystitis is rare in men. Women are more likely to have cystitis. It is much easier for the bacteria to travel into a woman's bladder, because it does not have to travel as far.

The condition is very common, and most often affects sexually active women age 20 to 50. Sexual intercourse may increase the risk of cystitis.. However, the infection may also occur in those who are not sexually active.

Older adults also have high risk for developing cystitis. This is due in part to conditions such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), prostatitis, and urethral strictures.

The following also increase your risk for cystitis:

Bowel incontinence
Diabetes
Blockage of the bladder or urethra
HIV
History of analgesic nephropathy or reflux nephropathy
Immobility or decreased mobility
Insertion of instruments into the urinary tract (such as a catheter or cystoscope)
Not drinking enough fluids

Symptoms

Abnormal urine color (cloudy)
Frequent or urgent need to urinate
Foul or strong urine odor
Need to urinate at night (nocturia)
Painful urination (dysuria)
Pressure in the lower pelvis

Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease:

Chills
Fatigue
Fever
Flank pain
Mental changes or confusion *
Nausea and vomiting
Pain during sexual intercourse
Penis pain (rare)

* Often in an elderly person, mental changes or confusion are the only signs of a possible urinary tract infection.

Signs and tests

Urinalysis commonly shows white blood cells (WBCs) or red blood cells (RBCs). There may be blood in the urine.

Urine culture (clean catch) or catheterized urine specimen may be done to find out what kind of bacteria is causing the infection and to determine the appropriate antibiotic for treatment.

Treatment

Cystitis should be promptly treated. Antibiotics are used to fight the bacterial infection. You should finish the entire course of antibiotics. Commonly used antibiotics include:

Amoxicillin
Cephalosporins
Ciprofloxacin or levofloxacin
Doxycycline
Nitrofurantoin
Sulfa drugs (sulfonamides) such as trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim)

A medicine called phenazopyridine (Pyridium) may be used to reduce the burning and urgency associated with cystitis.

Over-the-counter products that increase acid in the urine, such as ascorbic acid or cranberry juice, may be recommended to decrease the concentration of bacteria in the urine.

Follow-up may include urine cultures to make sure that bacterial infection is gone.

Expectations (prognosis)

Most cases of cystitis are uncomfortable but disappear without complication after treatment.

Complications

Acute kidney failure
Chronic or recurrent urinary tract infection
Kidney infection

Calling your health care provider

Call your health care provider if you have symptoms of cystitis, or if you have already been diagnosed and symptoms get worse. You should also call if new symptoms develop, particularly fever, back pain, stomach pain, or vomiting.

Prevention

Keeping the genital area clean and wiping from front to back may reduce the chance of introducing bacteria from the rectal area to the urethra.

Drink plenty of fluids to allow for frequent urination to flush the bacteria from the bladder.

Urinating immediately after sexual intercourse may help eliminate any bacteria that may have been introduced during intercourse. If you do not urinate for a long period of time, the bacteria has time to multiply. Frequent urinating may reduce risk of cystitis in those who are prone to urinary tract infections.

Drinking cranberry juice prevents certain types of bacteria from attaching to the wall of the bladder and may reduce your risk of infection.

References

Norrby SR. Approach to the patient with urinary tract infection. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap.306

Foster RT Sr. Uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women. Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am. 2008 Jun;35(2):235-48, viii.

Review Date:9/18/2008
Reviewed By:Linda Vorvick, MD, Seattle Site Coordinator, Lecturer, Pathophysiology, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

ADAM Quality A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial process. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The Agency for Health Care Administration (Agency) and this website do not claim the information on, or referred to by, this site is error free. This site may include links to websites of other government agencies or private groups. Our Agency and this website do not control such sites and are not responsible for their content. Reference to or links to any other group, product, service, or information does not mean our Agency or this website approves of that group, product, service, or information.

Additionally, while health information provided through this website may be a valuable resource for the public, it is not designed to offer medical advice. Talk with your doctor about medical care questions you may have.