Cystitis
Alternative names:
bladder infection; urinary tract infection; UTI
Definition:
An infection of the urinary bladder or urethra.
Causes, incidence, and risk factors:
Cystitis is caused when bacteria enter the urethra and bladder and cause inflammation and infection. It is very common, occurring in 2 out of 100 people. Cystitis occurs most commonly in females, because their urethra is shorter and closer to the anus. Cystitis is rarer in males. Older adults are at high risk for developing cystitis, with the incidence in the elderly being as high as 33 out of 100 people.
Over 90% of cases of cystitis are caused by E. coli, a bacterium normally found in the intestine. Normally, the urethra and bladder have no bacteria. Bacteria that manage to enter the bladder are usually removed during urination. But if bacteria remain in the bladder, they grow easily and quickly and result in infection.
Risks for cystitis include obstruction of the bladder or urethra with resultant stasis of urine, insertion of instruments into the urinary tract (such as catheterization or cystoscopy), pregnancy, diabetes, and a history of analgesic nephropathy or reflux nephropathy. Sexual intercourse can increase the risk of cystitis in women because bacteria can be introduced into the bladder through the urethra.
The elderly population are at increased risk for developing cystitis due to incomplete emptying of the bladder associated with such conditions as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), prostatitis, and urethral strictures. Also, lack of adequate fluids, bowel incontinence, immobility or decreased mobility, and placement in a nursing home, all place the person at increased risk for developing cystitis.
Related disorders include:
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