Urinary Tract Infection

[-Lady Noir-]

Is this common for dialysis patients?
Or end stage kidney failure patients?
More for males than females?

Mikes had two lately, the docs cannot explain why.

[Jean]

My GP said that we tend to get them more often because we do not p as much and the remaining urine stays there too long. But, I am only in 4th stage. So, I dont really know if that applies to those on dialysis.

[Darthvadar]

Yes, it DOES appear to be common...

Mum's on CAPD, and still urinates (about a litre a day)...

My mum has a permenant low grade UTI... It flares up occasionally... She's on a Prophylactic antibiotic (Augmentin) all the time now...

Darth...

[natnnnat]

My DH has told me that he used to get it a LOT, and was told by his nephrologist that when he pees, he should wait a bit, and some more will come out.  I do this trick too now, as I get it a lot also. 

[-Lady Noir-]

Thanks guys. He was on antibiotics for the first bout, and as soon as he had finished those, it flared back up again.. they thought he had Clamydia! Luckily the tests came back negative for that 

Now they reakon he has alot of sugar in his urine. Does anyone know if thats a common thing either? Due to the dialysis fluid?
They suspect it could be Diabetes   

[bette1]

I don't know alot about this but do you think the high amount of sugar in his urine may be related to the PD.  The solution is dextrose and if he's using 2.5 or 4.25 bags then he is retaining some of the sugar to pull of his excess fluid. 

May be worth a question to the docs.

Good luck!

[-Lady Noir-]

Thanks Bette. I wondered that, he's using 1x 1.5% & 1x 2.5%

Turns out he doesn't have diabetes. Fasting glucose is totally normal. 

[Hubbs]

Hi, Did you know drinking Cranberry Juice helps clean out your track? yep. check it out 

[Jean]

And, if you hate cranberry juice, you can take the pills instead.

[*kana*]

You know, I am a true believer in super bugs.  I had my first bladder infection when I was 18 and had one off and on monthly for atleast 10 years.  I got really sick with a kidney infection and was put on Getamiacin and another big gun antibiotic for weeks.  I didn't have any issues after that.   I think one just never gets rid of the bug they have and it keeps coming back until they give you the strong stuff.   

[chook]

I'm an advocate of cranberry. I used to get at least one really severe UTI a year and since taking cranberry pills, I've had just the one in nearly three years.  One for the ladies: one of my docs told me to always peeing after sex helps against UTIs as well.

[MomInDialysis]

I know this is an old post, but we are having this problem again now for the 4th time in 1 year.  My Mom still produces urine, but does not "P" per say.  She is 81 and is incontinent.  She leaks a slight stream constantly as well as when she coughs or laughs(which isn't very much lately).  She is coming home from the hospital today with her 4th bout of UTI. She has several complications, but I would love to find out how to avoid the UTI carousel.  Being 81, she starts hallucinating when ever she gets a UTI and her fever hits 99.  She never knows she has one until she starts to see things that are not there, people, room decor, and colored fuzz on surfaces.  I KNOW IT SOUNDS WEIRD, but it is true.  It is very frightening for me and her.  I will try the cranberry pills.  She currently uses Root Beer it is an old natural remedy.
I have a question that may sound silly but if I don't ask it I won't know.  Do renal patients who are in final stages of kidney failure ever catheterize to keep the old urine out of the urinary tract?

[Riki]

I didn't know you could get cranberry pills... I didn't know root beer was a remedy either. I drink a lot of A&W root beer because it has less phosphorus than most other pop, and the same amount that's in 7up.  Maybe that's why I haven't had one in so long.

btw, I don't need cranberry pills.  I'll eat the cranberries whole.. *G*

[Ang]

Hi, Did you know drinking Cranberry Juice helps clean out your track? yep. check it out 

i always thought cranberry juice was a no no for renal and transplant patients

[KarenInWA]

Hi, Did you know drinking Cranberry Juice helps clean out your track? yep. check it out 

i always thought cranberry juice was a no no for renal and transplant patients

Here in the US, Ocean Spray Cranberry juices are endorsed by the National Kidney Foundation, and even provide cranberry drinks at some of their walks and other programs. Here's a link about it - http://www.kidney.org/news/newsroom/newsitemArchive.cfm?id=30

My post-tx dietician was thrilled when I told her cran-grape and cran-raspberry juices are staples in my kitchen.  Not only is cranberry juice good for kidneys, the juice tends to be lower in potassium than other fruit juices. It can also help in those who get kidney stones.

KarenInWA

[Riki]

Cranberry juice is one of the things that is stocked in the kitchen at dialysis for patients to drink.  The nurses will sometimes mix it with gingerale.  Then it's kind of like having a cocktail. *G*

[Ang]

Hi, Did you know drinking Cranberry Juice helps clean out your track? yep. check it out 

i always thought cranberry juice was a no no for renal and transplant patients

Here in the US, Ocean Spray Cranberry juices are endorsed by the National Kidney Foundation, and even provide cranberry drinks at some of their walks and other programs. Here's a link about it - http://www.kidney.org/news/newsroom/newsitemArchive.cfm?id=30

My post-tx dietician was thrilled when I told her cran-grape and cran-raspberry juices are staples in my kitchen.  Not only is cranberry juice good for kidneys, the juice tends to be lower in potassium than other fruit juices. It can also help in those who get kidney stones.

KarenInWA

just checked the meds i'm taking , its on cranberry juice,its grapefruit juice you have to watch

[SteveK87]

Yes, UTIs are more common because they urinate less frequently.  My wife has had 2 UTIs in the passed few months.  Keep in mind sex can also cause UTIs more frequently when one doesn't urinate much.

[-Lady Noir-]

I prob should have mentioned that he peed alot throughout dialysis, which isn't usual i know. 

[Rain]

I woudln't be drinking Root Beer if you get UTIs.  If you eat lots of sugar I find for me it increases my risks of UTIs. So I've cut out all sugar and I make sure I have a good source of protein at every meal.

When I first started dialysis I never got any UTIs then they started after a few rounds of antibiotics due to blood infections from my line.  I use to get them 4-5 times a year and they even sent me for a cyscoscopy since one was so bad I was peeing blood clots.   And I have always been taking cranberry pills.  Since September I've been taking a probiotic, on and off since it's hard on the system. I realized with all the antibiotics with the blood infections then the UTI my good bacteria as been depleted.  Well no infections since August of 2011 and the only thing different is the probiotic pills.

[MomInDialysis]

Good for you Rain.  Glad to hear the blood infection is cleared up.  Mom's seems to be gone as well.  She got another this past winter when they had to replace her catheter 3 times.  They are trying to tell her it had to be something they did during Home dialysis.  I know there is no way it happened at home.  Too many precautions taken and out dialysis room is more germ free than their O.R.  They are just covering their butts because Medicare won't pay the bills to recouperate her if the problem is caused by the hospital and the hospital is not allowed to bill the patient either.  The good thing is she is now doing much better and no UTI either.  Keep the cranberry juice, rootbeer, and probiotics coming.  Mom takes acidophilus twice a day without fail.

[jackswwagar]

It is common for kidney failure patients and it can be because of germs those inject through the urethra and travel to the bladder and kidney. Women have more chances of this than the man.

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