Signs & Symptoms of a Staph Infection UTI
Urinary tract infections (also called urinary infections or bladder infections) are common inflammation of urinary system, which includes the kidneys, bladder and urethra. They are caused when bacteria such as staphylococcus aureus is introduced into the urinary system, normally through the urethra. Although these infections can be painful and inconvenient, they are easily treatable if you can recognize the signs.
Staphylococcus Aureus
Staphylococcus Aureus (often abbreviated to just staph) is a type of bacteria that can cause many types of infections. Its name comes from the Greek for bunch of grapes and berry, because these bacteria look like clusters of grapes when viewed under a microscope. Unlike the leading cause of urinary tract infections, E. coli, staph is not normally found in a healthy human body. It causes a number of diseases, ranging from food poisoning or endocarditis. Although staph can cause urinary tract infections, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that the only 10 to 20 percent of UTIs are caused by staph.
Increase or Decrease in Urination
One of the first signs of urinary tract infection caused by staph is a change in the way you urinate. You may notice that you suddenly have the urge to urinate more frequently than before. You also may notice that when you go the bathroom, little or no urine comes out. This can occur because the staph bacteria in your bladder are irritating the nerve ending. The nerves give false signals to the brain that your bladder is full.
Dysuria
One of the most disturbing symptoms of a staph urinary tract infections is dysuria, or blood in your urine. However, this is a common symptom of many urinary disorders. It occurs when your kidneys' filtration system malfunctions and blood gets through along with the waste products. The blood is then mixed with the urine and sent out through the urethra.
Changes in Urine
Blood in the urine is not the only change in your urine that can mean you have a staph urinary tract infections. Urine normally has a distinctive smell, but it may suddenly smell more pungent than usual. Your urine may also appear darker than it normally is. Cloudy urine is another sign of a staph-caused urinary tract infection. In some cases, the staph bacteria irritate the urethra so much that you feel a significant burning sensation when you urinate.
Lower Body Pain
Staph urinary tract infections can be painful. Depending on the parts of your urinary system that are inflamed by the staph bacteria, you may feel cramping, burning or pain in your vulva, pelvis or lower back. Pain in your vulva is from an inflamed urethra, while the symptoms in your pelvis are caused by an inflamed bladder. If you feel pain in your lower back, this can mean the bacteria have traveled to your kidneys, a sign that your infection has worsened.
Tags: urinary tract, tract infections, urinary tract infections, staph bacteria, urinary system, cause urinary, cause urinary tract
