This month I came down with a UTI (Urinary Tract Infection).

A UTI is also known as a bladder infection and can effect any part of the urinary system.

Lower UTI’s include the ureter, bladder, urethra.

Specifically being a kidney transplant recipient, UTI’s are more complicated.

More serious infections can become upper UTI’s which become kidney infections.

This can lead to hospitalisations and even graft loss in worst case scenarios.

UTI’s symptoms often vary but can begin with burning, sensitivity and feeling like you need to ‘pee’ more often. In more serious cases, it can progress to flu like symptoms with fevers and graft pain.

Symptoms take some time to appear, so it is hard to tell immediately if an infection has started. 

I was having mild symptoms and after two weeks I started feeling unwell.

What triggers a UTI (in women)

• Dehydration
• Sexual activity
• Birth control (diaphragms and spermicide)
• Bacterial infections (bacterial infections that enter the urinary tract, usually through the urethra)
• Infections: E.coli, staphylococcus, Enterococcus,  Proteus, Klebsiella
• Weakened immune systems due to conditions such as diabetes, cancer, autoimmune conditions
• Menopause (decline in estrogen can thin the tissues of the urethra and bladder, increasing susceptibility to UTIs)
• Hygiene
• Holding urine for extended periods
• Pregnancy
• Other conditions such as kidney stones, gut issues, yeast infections

To get tested, you will need to take a ‘speci’ or sample to your GP or local blood/pathology collection.

Along with this you will need a signed form known as a Requisition from your GP. This form orders the tests to be performed and sends the specimen to the lab.

NB: For a urinary tract infection check specifically that the test is for a urine culture.

For many patients the forms may order a variety of tests eg. PCR (protein – creatinine), glucose

However these tests do not check for infection.

It can be helpful to buy and keep some specimen jars, as well as photocopying requisition forms for spares.

Being a transplant patient, it is recommended however that I do my tests directly through the hospital outpatient clinic.

After giving the sample and getting checked over by the doctor, I was put on Keflex antibiotics and my medications were adjusted for the week (doses lowered to take some ‘pressure’ off my transplant)

I was feeling much better after a few days, and went back to clinic the next week for a blood test and follow up.

Risk factors affecting kidney transplant patients

• Immunosuppression Age/Gender (Female and older patients are more at risk)
• Anatomical Abnormalities (Urinary tract abnormalities eg. Urine leaks can stop normal urine flow and increase infection risk)
• Deceased donor transplantation
• Invasive procedures
• Transplant acute rejection episodes
• Diabetes

Medications and effect on kidneys

Medications have a huge impact on UTI

• Medications for diabetes (Jardiance, Farxiga)
• Antidiabetic medication works by helping the kidneys remove sugars from the urine. But bacteria and other germs love glucose, because the nutrient helps them multiply. ‘Peeing’ out the extra glucose attracts these germs to your genitals, which can lead to various infections in that area, including UTIs.
• In rare cases these infections can become serious and lead to hospitalisation.
• Immunosuppressant medication and steroids (e.g Tacrolimus, Prednisone) (medications lower immune system, makes them get infections more easily)
• Antidepressants such as Amitriptyline
• NSAIDs

Avoid:

• Sugars (cause increase in candida/yeast infections)
• Alcohol
• Tea/Coffee (Caffeine is dehydrating, can make it more difficult for kidneys)
• Carbs
• Cheese
• Fizzy drinks (Irritate bladder, and can cause inflammation)

Antibiotics

While antibiotics are necessary and effective at treating urinary tract infections there is a strong link between antibiotics also triggering UTI infections.

Antibiotics causes damage to gut health. By wiping out the natural flora of the intestines and vagina it can lead to an overgrowth of candida and trigger yeast infections or ‘thrush’.

Yeast infections can travel from the gut to genitals. This causes itching, stinging and lead to irritation and inflammation of the urinary opening, which in turn can allow for bacteria to enter.

UTI + Menstrual Cycle

Many women are more likely to get UTI’s during their period because of an increase in issues such as

• Hormonal fluctuations
• Hygiene practices
• Changes in vaginal flora
• Yeast infections
• PMS, stress and lower immunity.

Treatment methods (specific for transplant patients)

• Hydration (water, coconut water sugar free)
• Urinary Alkalizer (Ural)
• Supplements to manage bacterial growth
• D Mannose (Simple sugar which works by binding itself to bacteria, which are then eliminated in the urine. This prevents bacteria from building up inside the system)
• Propolis (natural supplement which has antibacterial properties against Klebsiella pneumoninae)
• Celery extract
• Coriander seed oil
• Changing birth control
• Methanamine Hippurate
• Probiotics
• Smoothies: Celery, Cucumber and Coriander have diuretic effects and can act as a natural ‘flush’ for your kidneys.
• Vaginal pessary boric acid or eostrogen rings
• Cotton underwear

For anyone going through something like this, hope this information has been of help.

With love

Luna x