What It Is:

Accounting for 40 percent of all hospital infections and affecting more than 13,000 Pennsylvanians and about 600,000 people nationwide every year, urinary tract infections are the most common type of hospital infection. These infections are usually caused by the use of a urinary catheter –; a tube that carries urine from your bladder out of your body –; because bacteria can enter your body through the catheter. Although urinary tract infections occur more frequently than any other type of hospital infection, they carry a lower risk of death than other types of hospital infections. Symptoms may include any of the following:

• Frequent urge to urinate and a painful, burning feeling in the area of the bladder or urethra during urination
• A small amount of urine is passed, despite a strong urge to urinate
• Milky, cloudy, or reddish urine

Who is At Risk:

Anyone having a procedure that involves the use of a urinary catheter is at risk for getting a hospital associated urinary tract infection. The risk of infection goes up significantly if you have a urinary catheter for more than six days. In addition to the length of time the catheter remains in the urinary tract, the method of catheterization, the quality of the catheter care, and the strength of your immune system will affect your risk for infection. People who are taking antibiotics are also at greater risk for some types of urinary tract infections.

What You Can Do:

Proper cleaning and maintenance of catheters will greatly reduce the risk of a catheter- related urinary tract infection. One of the most important steps hospitals can take to prevent this type of infection is to limit the use of urinary catheters to medically required situations. So what can you do to protect yourself? Avoid a urinary catheter if you can. Ask your doctor or nurse if it's absolutely necessary that you have a urinary catheter, and if so, to remove it as soon as it's no longer needed.

In choosing a hospital, Review Hospital Care to find information about infection rates for different hospitals in Pennsylvania.

Treatment:

If you do get a urinary tract infection your doctor or nurse may treat you by giving antibiotics. You may also be directed to drink lots of fluids and avoid spicy or acidic foods. With proper treatment, urinary tract infections often clear up within a few days.