UTIs are rising fast—and the cause could be in your refrigerator

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) have become more frequent along with increasing severity/death rate. Between 1990 and 2019, UTIs posed a greater health threat with an increase of 68%. In addition, the bacteria that cause those infections have also been observed to react against the normal medications used for these infections. In general, urine passageway cases are believed to be irritating and burdensome rather than threatening lives.

However, in an aged person or one who has several diseases, the antibiotics that treat such diseases can be lifesaving. The non-administration of these antibiotics is responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands annually globally. Even when they aren’t deadly, the more than 400 million annual worldwide UTIs cases significantly strain limited medical resources.

“UTIs are not only a significant cause of illness and death but also a major strain on the U.S. healthcare system, costing over $2 billion each year,” says Michelle Van Kuiken, a urologist and urogynecologist at the University of California, San Francisco.

To help alleviate this issue, scientists are striving to pinpoint and comprehend some of the lesser-known factors at play.Contaminated meat could be a surprising factor, as it may carry Escherichia coli bacteria.

What Are UTIs and Their Potential Dangers?

UTIs can start in any part of the urinary system, such as the kidneys or bloodstream, but typically affect the bladder.

Common symptoms include frequent urination, a persistent urge to urinate with an empty bladder, and pain during urination. Signs of bladder infection can also be fever and cramping, urine with foul smell and blood traces.

You were taught the data in October 2023.

The urinary tract infections (UTIs) develop when the bacteria invade the urinary tract through the urethra. This can occur due to sexual activity, genetic predisposition, or poor hygiene practices including wrong wiping techniques.

Among various types of infections managing in outpatient setting in America, urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the most common ones affecting an estimated 50-60 percent of women’s lives. As well, approximately 25 percent of women suffer from recurrent infections along six months period.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) can occur in anyone regardless of sex but women experience it more than men by as much as thirty times this may be due to the female biology where the urethra is shorter and located close to the anus which serves as an easy entry point for bacteria.

Comiter says that sexually active women, older women, and immunocompromised individuals are more susceptible to these infections than others.

Doctors often prescribe antibiotics to bladder-only urinary tract infections (UTIs) to help them heal from several weeks to just days, even though these infections are widely considered not dangerous since they usually resolve on their own without treatment.

In contrast, if these infections extend to the kidneys, bloodstream, or other regions of the reproductive system, they may result in severe complications, including blood poisoning, sepsis, kidney damage, or even kidney failure.

Jacob Lazarus, an infectious disease physician at Massachusetts General Hospital and a bacterial cell biologist at Harvard Medical School. He explains that if not addressed, “a very big percentage of these cases can even pose a life-threatening risk.”

Why Are UTIs Cases on the Rise?

The number of cases of urinary tract infection has risen due to several reasons amongst which is the increasing population. Lazarus states that “as the population grows, we can expect more UTIs and increased disease burden due to higher numbers”.

Also, some ailments connected with UTIs, for instance kidney stones and type 2 diabetes, are also on the increase. Moreover, many teenagers and adults are getting into sexual relations. “In otherwise healthy women, sexual activity is the primary factor contributing to the development of a UTIs,” explains Van Kuiken.

Moreover, the global population is aging. Comiter notes that the aging population is increasing the prevalence of UTIs, as they are more common in older adults.