Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a common condition that occurs more often in women than in men. Symptoms include painful urination, lower abdominal pain, nausea, and fever however, they can differ depending on the type of infection.UTI is treated with antibiotics that fight bacteria and reduce inflammation in the bladder. Primary education for patients with UTI includes rules for taking medication and preventing re-occurrence of infection.
A patient with a urinary tract infection was prescribed the antibiotics sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim, which are most commonly used to fight urogenital bacteria. Sulfamethoxazole is a bacteriostatic sulfonamide antibiotic, and trimethoprim is a dihydrofolate reductase inhibitor (Kester et al., 2012). These antibiotics work best together because they have similar mechanisms of action. Sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim interfere with the last two steps in the synthesis of folic acid, nucleic acids, and proteins. Thus, they stop the division and growth of bacteria and their resistance (Kester et al., 2012). The simplest way to diagnose UTI is a laboratory test such as a urinalysis, which detects the presence of bacteria and white blood cells that fight it in the urine (“What is a urinary tract infection,” 2019). A urine culture can also be taken to determine the exact species of bacteria.
The most important thing in the patient’s education is the rules for taking antibiotics, as well as personal hygiene to prevent possible infection. For example, the patient needs to remember about drinking enough water, taking antibiotics even after the symptoms disappear, and intimate hygiene rules. The resource that is best suited for patient education is the Urinary Care Foundation site and their page about UTI (“What is a urinary tract infection,” 2019). On this site, the patient can read the disease’s symptoms and treatment, find answers to common questions and find educational resources about other issues, such as sexual health. In addition, the information on the site is offered by the national urology foundation and is, therefore, credible.
In conclusion, a urinary tract infection is a common condition that can be treated with antibiotics that fight bacteria. These antibiotics inhibit the synthesis of folic acid, which stops bacterial growth and relieves symptoms of the disease. The success of treatment depends on adherence to medication and personal hygiene rules by a patient to prevent re-infection; hence, the patient’s education plays a key role in this process.
References
Kester, M., Karpa, K. D., & Vrana, K. E. (2012). Elsevier’s integrated review pharmacology. Elsevier.
What is a urinary tract infection (UTI) in adults? (2019). Web.