INFECÇÃO URINÁRIA: DO DIAGNÓSTICO AO TRATAMENTO

A urinary tract infection (UTI) is a common condition in all ages, from newborns to the elderly, being more frequent in females. This study aims to analyze the main causes of urinary tract infections, assessing its complications, its diagnostic tests and therapeutics. The UTI consists of microbial colonization of the urine that can develop into a tissue invasion of any structure of the urinary tract. Urine analysis is a simple cheap and easy to obtain thesample, yet provides relevant information on renal and urinary tract, as well as some extra-renal diseases, being considered a routine examination. Among the tests performed for confirmation and monitoring of urinary infection are reagent strips ("dipstick"), especially used to screen cases of suspected acute UTI. The downside would be the use of some medications that can alter the outcome of laboratory tests using pharmacological mechanisms, physical, chemical and metabolic, as being a very commonplace infection, people end up self-medicating in order to relieve pain and if there is no improvement in symptoms, only to decide later laboratory examination, thus controlling this interference plays an important role in our laboratory. After completion of the urine culture and getting a positive result, the antibiogram will be made to check the most effective drug. However due to this indiscriminate use, exams can end up suffering changes in the results and sometimes even a negative urine culture.