Unveiling the Truth: What Causes Urosepsis?
Sepsis is a systematic inflammatory response that can lead to organ dysfunction, failure, and even death.
As the name indicates, Urosepsis is a Sepsis in the urogenital (urinary) tract.
According to NCBI, almost 25% of all Sepsis begins in the urogenital (urinary) tract, thus called Urosepsis.
Although Urosepsis can be treated with antibiotics, an untreated condition has a mortality rate between 20 and 40 percent.
Therefore, knowing the causes and the causative pathogen is necessary to prevent or treat the disease early.
In this article, we will deeply understand what causes Urosepsis in all infants, children, and adults and when you can seek medical guidance.
So, read this informative article to learn more about the condition and what are the main reasons behind it.
What causes Urosepsis
Here are the main causes of Urosepsis in children and adults:
Urinary Tract Infections
Untreated Urinary Tract Infections are the common causes of Urosepsis.
According to NCBI, infections of the urinary tract, lower urinary tract (bladder infection), or upper urinary tract infections (Pyelonephritis) are the cause of Urosepsis.
UTI develops when the infection-causing bacteria, E. coli, enters the urinary tract through the urethra and infects the urinary bladder.
In the urinary bladder, the bacteria multiply and cause infection, called Cystitis.
However, early diagnosis and treatment of antibiotics can be helpful in stopping the bacteria from infecting other organs.
If left untreated, the bacteria can travel to the kidneys and cause infection. This condition is called Pyelonephritis and can show severe symptoms.
Kidney stones
Urine is held in the urinary bladder before passing out from the urethral opening.
Kidney stones, when they block the ureter, cause kidney infections, which can lead to Urosepsis.
According to NCBI, struvite stones are produced in the presence of a urea-splitting bacteria, and their association can cause Urosepsis.
Therefore, it is necessary to consult your doctor and seek medical guidance to treat the disease early and avoid complications.
Furthermore, following are the people who are at a higher risk of developing Urosepsis:
- Older adults
- Children
- Women
- People with wounds or injuries
- People with weak immune systems
- People using invasive devices, such as catheters
- Hypotension during surgery of calculous Pyonephrosis
- Patients such as transplant recipients
- Patients receiving anti-cancer drugs
- Patients with AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome)
People can take their prescribed medication and seek guidance to treat diseases and reduce the risk of developing Urosepsis.
What are the risk factors for Urosepsis
After knowing about the main causes of Urosepsis, you should also know about the common risk factors.
These risk factors can develop infections and, later on, can cause Urosepsis if not treated.
The common risk factors are as follows:
Having surgery and using a catheter
A surgical process where your body gets exposed to a catheter can increase the risk of developing Urosepsis.
Catheters are the medical devices used to collect urine from the urinary bladder.
According to a 2010 NCBI report, patients admitted with chronic urinary catheter insertion were found to have E. coli bacteria in the patients.
E. coli is one of the bacteria that causes Urinary Tract Infections and can lead to Urosepsis on infecting urinary tracts.
Moreover, Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections (CAUTI) can increase the chances of Urosepsis and even cause death.
Diabetes
Diabetes is another risk factor that can contribute to the development of Urosepsis in patients.
NCBI also claims that Urosepsis is more frequent in people with Diabetes.
The reason behind this is said to be a weak immune system of the patients that cannot inhibit bacterial growth.
Therefore, it is advised to visit your doctor early to avoid serious complications, as delaying the treatments can cause more problems.
Unable to empty your urinary bladder
When you are unable to empty your urinary bladder, the risk of developing Urosepsis increases.
The main reasons behind urinary retention can be neurological disorders, inflammation, infection, mechanical, etc.
Accumulated urine in the urinary bladder can become a great medium for bacterial growth, and bacteria can multiply in the urinary bladder.
It can cause UTIs and, therefore, Sepsis in the urogenital tract.
Immune system disorders (AIDS)
According to the World Health Organization, Sepsis can cause death in people with HIV.
People with AIDS tend to have weak immune systems and less ability to fight against the pathogen.
When to see a doctor
Early diagnosis and treatment of the condition are the keys to eliminating the infection-causing pathogen.
Therefore, visiting your healthcare practitioner and seeking medical guidance is necessary.
You can visit your doctor on facing any of the following symptoms of UTIs:
- Burning sensation while peeing
- Sudden urge to pee
- Urine retention in the urinary bladder
- Blood in urine
- Fever, chills, shiver
You should immediately consult your doctor and seek medical treatment, as delaying can lead to severe complications.
Conclusion
Urosepsis is a Sepsis in the urogenital tract.
It is mainly caused due to a UTI, as the bacteria can severely infect the lower and upper urinary tract.
Leaving it untreated can increase the risks of developing Urosepsis.
Also, when the struvite stones are present in the presence of urea-splitting bacteria, this can also lead to Urosepsis.
Although Urosepsis can occur in many individuals, a few are at a greater risk of developing the condition.
These include older adults, children, women, people with weak immune systems, patients with transplanted organs, etc.
Moreover, using a catheter, Diabetes patients, people with urine retention, and AIDS patients are at higher risk of developing Urosepsis.
Therefore, it is necessary to visit your doctor early and seek medical treatment to eliminate the condition.
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