Patient/caregiver was instructed on risk factors for UTI in females as follows:
UTI is more common in females compared to males owing to the urethra located in close proximity to the vagina and anus. This proximity increases bacterial access to the urethra, thus increasing risk for UTI. Also, the urethra is shorter in females and the bacteria now have to travel shorter distance to infect other parts of the urinary system and cause UTI.
Urinary catheterization:
- Individuals could be placed on urinary catheters for various reasons, such as, hygiene maintenance in bedbound patients, obstruction to urine flow due to renal stones, urinary incontinence in individuals with damage to brain and spinal cord, and many more.
- Catheters are placed into the urethra and can irritate and damage the urethral lining. Damaged urethral lining can be an easy target for bacteria to colonize, resulting in UTI.
Poorly controlled diabetes:
- Poorly managed diabetic patients can have high quantities of sugar in the urine.
- Increased sugar in the urine is a happy medium for the bacteria to grow and multiply, thus leading to UTI.
Sexual practices:
- Women receiving anal sex and immediately proceeding to vaginal sex can be at increased risk for presentation with UTI.
- This sexual practice can increasingly transmit bacteria from the anal region to the urethra, resulting in inflammation of urethra and UTI.
Multiple sexual partners:
- Women having multiple sexual partners are naturally at increased risk for sexually transmitted diseases, such as, herpes and gonorrhea.
- Due to the close proximity of urethra to the vagina, these infections have more chance of spreading from the vagina to the urethra, resulting in inflammation of urethra and UTI.
