What if a urinary tract infection gets worse? Let's talk about Urosepsis!

Have you ever had a urinary tract infection, or as we all know it, a urinary tract infection ( UTI )? This is a very common experience, especially for women. It starts with a little discomfort, a frequent need to urinate, and a burning sensation when urinating. Many people don't pay much attention to it. They think, "Drink more water and it will be fine." But, did you know that if a urine infection, which is considered normal, is not treated properly, it can turn into a serious condition that can be life-threatening? That dangerous condition is what we call Urosepsis in medicine.

Simply put, what is Urosepsis?

This is very simple to understand. Imagine, a bacterial or fungal infection enters your urinary system. We call this a urinary tract infection (UTI). Usually, when this infection is in the bladder, we call it cystitis . If you don't get treatment quickly, these infectious germs can travel up the urethra and spread to your kidneys . We call this pyelonephritis .

This is the most dangerous stage. When the infection spreads to the kidneys, the germs enter the bloodstream and start spreading throughout the body. In response, our body's immune system starts a big fight. But when this fight becomes severe, it starts damaging our own organs. That's what we call sepsis .

When sepsis becomes more severe, it can lead to a condition called septic shock . This is when blood pressure drops dangerously low, causing major organs such as the heart, lungs, and kidneys to fail, and even death. While most people recover from normal sepsis, septic shock has a mortality rate of up to 40%. Therefore, this is not something to be taken lightly.

How to recognize the symptoms exactly?

The symptoms of urosepsis do not come on suddenly. They come on in stages. The first symptoms are those of a typical urinary tract infection. Let's look at the table below to understand this clearly.

When should you seek immediate medical advice?

Urosepsis is not something that can be treated at home. It is a medical emergency .

This condition can often develop in hospitalized patients. But it doesn't have to be that way. Anyone can develop this condition from an untreated urinary tract infection.

How is it treated?

In the case of urosepsis, time is of the essence. For every hour that treatment is delayed, the patient's chance of survival decreases by about 8%. That's why doctors begin treatment within an hour of confirming the diagnosis.

The main treatment methods are:

• Antibiotics: Once urine and blood samples are sent for testing, strong antibiotics are given intravenously (IV) very quickly to kill the germs causing the infection. Usually, drugs like `(Piperacillin)`, `(Third-generation cephalosporins)` or `(Fluoroquinolones)` are used.
• Supportive Care:
• Intravenous Fluids (IV Fluids): Large amounts of fluids, such as saline, are given to stabilize blood pressure and maintain fluid levels in the body.
• Vasopressors: If blood pressure drops dangerously low, medications such as `(Norepinephrine)` are given to control it.
• Oxygen: Oxygen is given if there is difficulty breathing.
• Treating the underlying cause: Sometimes, this infection can occur due to a blockage in the urinary tract, such as a kidney stone. In such cases, immediate treatment is also done, such as removing the stone or inserting a stent to bypass the blockage.

How can we protect ourselves from this terrible situation?

The best and only way to prevent urosepsis is to seek proper medical treatment as soon as a urinary tract infection develops.

If you have symptoms of a urinary tract infection, don't just assume, "This will go away on its own." Drinking water alone won't cure it. See your doctor right away. Take the antibiotics he or she prescribes for the full prescribed period. Don't stop taking them just because you feel better. Doing so can cause the infection to worsen and progress to Urosepsis.

Urosepsis, Urinary Tract Infection, UTI, Sepsis, Septic Shock, Kidney Infection, Pyelonephritis