http://www.umm.edu/graphics/images/en/1122.jpg
So when most of us think of the medical term “urinary tract infection,” (UTI) we automatically think of females, right? Well that is because the female urinary tract has a shorter urethra (tube that connects the urinary bladder to the outside world), indicating a easier and shorter path for bacteria (from improper bathroom hygiene, sexual practices, “honeymoon cystitis”, etc) to cause an infection. Male urethra’s are much longer and therefore, in a healthy individual, is much less likely to form a urinary tract infection from similar reasons. Females (obviously) also lack prostatic (from the prostate) secretions which primarily include zinc, a major antimicrobial, to kill off unwanted bacteria.
Well, what are the major bacteria that would cause a UTI (in males or females)?
Bacteria
> Escherichia coli (#1 culprit from normal gut flora)
> Proteus sp. (associated with urinary stones called struvite stones and an alkaline pH)
> Enterobacter sp. (part of the normal fecal flora)
> Enterococcus sp. (mostly associated with hospitalized patients that are immunocompromised)
> Klebsiella sp.
> Pseudomonas sp.
> Staphylococcus saprophyticus (more common in sexually active young women 20-50 years old)
Viruses
> CMV
> HPV
> Rubella
> Adenovirus
> Mumps
>HIV
Fungal
> Candida
> Histoplasma capsulatum
Parasitic
> Schistosoma hematobium
However, there are some instances where males would have a higher likelihood for having a urinary tract infection
> Advancing age (typically > 65 years old)
> Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH, a generalized increase in the prostate gland)
> Renal stones
> Obstruction to outflow (coincides with BPH, or may be due to a renal stone)
> Congenital urinary anomalies
> Recent catheterization
> Previous UTI
Some complications might include:
> Ascending infections, resulting in pyelonephritis (kidney infection), where there would be protein, RBC, WBC, and “casts” in the urine. This is a serious condition and should be worked up by your primary care physician. S/sxs include fever, difficulty urinating, blood in the urine, scant, cloudy urine, and marked back pain bilaterally on either side of the spine.
> Kidney stones
> Obstruction to outflow. It only takes 2-3 mL of left over urine in the urinary bladder to become a breeding ground for bacteria to create an infection. Voiding all the urine from the bladder is a simple, but important aspect to keep in mind!
What can you do naturally for a UTI in a male?
> Drink cranberry juice, sweetened with mannose sugar, and lots of it! (Cranberry has the ability to prevent E. coli from adhering to the urinary tract epithelium, and the mannose is actually a preferred sugar of the bacteria. So essentially, you are distracting the bacteria from adhering to the epithelium with the mannose, which brings the “bugs” into the urine to be flushed out! Ingenious 
)
> Drink more water as well
> Consider acupuncture for a preventative standpoint for further urinary tract infections
> Address the issue of the prostate – is it enlarged? Ask your doctor to order a PSA screening test, if s/he has not already done so, to check for elevated levels, which might indicate prostate pathologies
> Sitz Bath Instructions are a good idea to decrease congestion and start blood moving in the pelvic region {However, do not do this until the results from the PSA test are back}
This information is not intended to replace any licensed medical professional’s diagnosis and treatment plan. Please see your primary care physician for a full workup and assessment if you have any of these symptoms.
References
Kumar, Vinay, Abul Abbas, and Nelson Fausto. Robbins and Cotran: Pathologic Basis of Disease. 7th . Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders, 2005. Print.
Medscape: Urinary Tract Infections in Males
Botanical Medicine Class Notes
http://www.umm.edu/graphics/images/en/1122.jpg
So when most of us think of the medical term “urinary tract infection,” (UTI) we automatically think of females, right? Well that is because the female urinary tract has a shorter urethra (tube that connects the urinary bladder to the outside world), indicating a easier and shorter path for bacteria (from improper bathroom hygiene, sexual practices, “honeymoon cystitis”, etc) to cause an infection. Male urethra’s are much longer and therefore, in a healthy individual, is much less likely to form a urinary tract infection from similar reasons. Females (obviously) also lack prostatic (from the prostate) secretions which primarily include zinc, a major antimicrobial, to kill off unwanted bacteria.
Well, what are the major bacteria that would cause a UTI (in males or females)?
Bacteria
> Escherichia coli (#1 culprit from normal gut flora)
> Proteus sp. (associated with urinary stones called struvite stones and an alkaline pH)
> Enterobacter sp. (part of the normal fecal flora)
> Enterococcus sp. (mostly associated with hospitalized patients that are immunocompromised)
> Klebsiella sp.
> Pseudomonas sp.
> Staphylococcus saprophyticus (more common in sexually active young women 20-50 years old)
Viruses
> CMV
> HPV
> Rubella
> Adenovirus
> Mumps
>HIV
Fungal
> Candida
> Histoplasma capsulatum
Parasitic
> Schistosoma hematobium
However, there are some instances where males would have a higher likelihood for having a urinary tract infection > Advancing age (typically > 65 years old)
> Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH, a generalized increase in the prostate gland)
> Renal stones
> Obstruction to outflow (coincides with BPH, or may be due to a renal stone)
> Congenital urinary anomalies
> Recent catheterization
> Previous UTI
Some complications might include:
> Ascending infections, resulting in pyelonephritis (kidney infection), where there would be protein, RBC, WBC, and “casts” in the urine. This is a serious condition and should be worked up by your primary care physician. S/sxs include fever, difficulty urinating, blood in the urine, scant, cloudy urine, and marked back pain bilaterally on either side of the spine.
> Kidney stones
> Obstruction to outflow. It only takes 2-3 mL of left over urine in the urinary bladder to become a breeding ground for bacteria to create an infection. Voiding all the urine from the bladder is a simple, but important aspect to keep in mind!
What can you do naturally for a UTI in a male?
)
> Drink cranberry juice, sweetened with mannose sugar, and lots of it! (Cranberry has the ability to prevent E. coli from adhering to the urinary tract epithelium, and the mannose is actually a preferred sugar of the bacteria. So essentially, you are distracting the bacteria from adhering to the epithelium with the mannose, which brings the “bugs” into the urine to be flushed out! Ingenious
> Drink more water as well
> Consider acupuncture for a preventative standpoint for further urinary tract infections
> Address the issue of the prostate – is it enlarged? Ask your doctor to order a PSA screening test, if s/he has not already done so, to check for elevated levels, which might indicate prostate pathologies
> Sitz Bath Instructions are a good idea to decrease congestion and start blood moving in the pelvic region {However, do not do this until the results from the PSA test are back}
This information is not intended to replace any licensed medical professional’s diagnosis and treatment plan. Please see your primary care physician for a full workup and assessment if you have any of these symptoms.
References Kumar, Vinay, Abul Abbas, and Nelson Fausto. Robbins and Cotran: Pathologic Basis of Disease. 7th . Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders, 2005. Print.
Medscape: Urinary Tract Infections in Males
Botanical Medicine Class Notes