The challenge of urinary tract infections

The urinary infection can be defined as the bacterial invasion of the urinary tract resulting in an inflammatory response. That means that one can speak of infection has to be a defensive reaction of the organism, manifested by the presence of leukocytes or white cells in urine. So that if there leukocytes in urine for many germs there, no infection. This fact often not well known, that a urine can have thousands of colonies of germs without necessarily have an infection, causes antibiotics are used too often without. Besides other diseases result similar to urinary infection such as a stone of ureter, gynecological diseases, causes psychosomatic pains asietan in that area and what is more serious symptoms, sometimes a simulated bladder cancer cystitis, which is poorly treated with antibiotics, delaying the diagnosis and prognosis worsens.

Another problem of misuse of antibiotics is that they tend to destroy all bacteria that live with us and protect us, leaving open for invasion via so-called opportunistic germs leading to genital infections fungal, often severe. Also in the digestive system can destroy all bacteria that help us make the digestion, leaving open a virulent germs doors, like the dreaded Clostridium difficile, which thrive in the intestine when all competing bacteria have been exterminated (Fig. 1).

Clostridium difficile that thrives in the intestine after the use of antibiotics.

To this must be added the serious problem of self-medication, because it still in many countries antibiotics are sold without prescription and without any control, which is a“auntentico broth culture” for the appearance of resistor. Bacterial resistance is a natural evolutionary process by which organisms adapt to selective pressure medicines, so that survivors have a genetic material that makes them virtually indestructible.

The bacterial resistance is becoming a drama public health in the world, because we live in an era where the risk of serious infection is similar to the 30s century last. In fact there are over 8000 Europeans killed each year by the ineffectiveness of current antibiotics and curiously urinary infections are largely responsible for this serious epidemic, because among other things it is the most frequently acquired infection in a hospital.

Besides the number of Antibiotics new that hits the market is low relative to what was happening in previous decades, ie there is a disproportion between the number of multiresistant germs and the creation of new antibiotics, more aggravating the situation, because also it is unlikely that in the near future this trend will change.

Therefore, it would be necessary to educate the society to avoid at all costs the self-medication and also to medical professionals not to indiscriminately treat urinary infections and limit the maximum use of antibiotics. For physicians, understandably, have an obligation to act and not sit idly by, but the evidence shows that in the case of infections, it is often preferable not do anything to not abuse the sick.