ALL YOUR QUESTIONS
ABOUT UTI ANSWERED
Q: What is Recurrent Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)? Are
they common?
A: Recurrent UTI is defined as at least two (2) infections in six
months or three (3) infections in a year. The episode of UTI must
be confirmed with positive urine culture.
Recurrent UTI is one of the most common conditions affecting
mainly women. It is estimated that about 50 – 60% of women
will develop UTI in their lifetime.
A: Generally, the treatment for recurrent UTI are “prevention” and
use of “antibiotics”.
Q: What are the different types of UTI? What are the causes to
recurrent UTI?
A: UTI can be divided into two (2) broad categories;
uncomplicated and complicated.
Prevention is always better than cure!
An uncomplicated UTI occurs when the patient suffers from an
isolated episode of UTI which has no structural or functional
abnormalities of the urinary tract.
A complicated UTI is usually presented with existing
structural or functional abnormalities of the urinary tract.
(e.g. urinary obstruction).
Possible Causes
Young and Pre-Menopausal
Women
Post-menopausal and
Elderly Women
Sexual intercourse
Use of spermicide
A new sexual partner
A mother with a history of UTI
History of UTI during childhood
Blood group antigen secretory status
Q: What is the treatment for recurrent UTI?
History of UTI before menopause
Urinary incontinence
Atrophic vaginitis due to
oestrogen deficiency
Increased post-void urine volume
Blood group antigen secretory
Table adapted from EUA
Q: Am I genetically at risk of getting recurrent UTI?
A: Yes, there is a possibility. The antigens secreted by various
blood groups may influence the response specifically on
urothelial cells (cells on the surface of the bladder) thereby
causing bacteria and lead to developing UTI.
The frequencies of secretor status in different ABO blood
groups are as follows:
Drink plenty of fluids (at least 2 to 3 liters per day)
Do not hold urine for a long time as this allows bacteria to
multiply within the urinary tract resulting in UTI. Urinate regularly.
Pass urine after sexual intercourse.
Avoid using spermicidal contraceptives. Use diaphragms and
vaginal douching with shower cream, soap or lotions instead.
To wipe from front to back, which will reduce the spread of
E. coli from the perigential area to the urethra.
Avoid multiple sexual partners which will reduce risk of both UTIs
and sexually transmitted disease.
Take cranberries and probiotics products which have proven
effective in preventing recurrent UTI in small studies.
Use vaginal estrogen creams or rings which may reduce the risk
of UTI in post-menopausal women.
Antibiotics
Before the UTI
symptom begins
(Self-start regime) After sexual
intercourse
(Self-start regime) Long-term low dose
antibiotic regime
If you are familiar with
the symptoms and it
has proven with a urine
culture before, the
urologist may advise
you to self-start antibiotic
treatment whenever you
are experiencing the start
of the UTI symptoms. If the UTI happens
mostly after sexual
intercourse, the
urologist may advise
you to self-start a
3-day prophylactic
course of
antibiotics after
sexual intercourse. The urologist may
advise you to take
3 to 6 months daily
course of low dose
antibiotics to prevent
recurring UTI. This is
usually advised when
all conservative
measurements fail.
Blood Type Percentage Shirley Bang Shieh Ling (Dr)
A 70.1% B 67.8% Senior Female Urologist at Advanced Urology Associates, the
largest group of urology specialists in private practice in Singapore.
AB 67.9% O 88.3%
www.urology.com.sg
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