Cystitis

Question 1

What is cystitis?

Answer 1

Bladder infection

Question 2

What pathogens can cause cystitis?

Answer 2

Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus saprophyticus (common in young women)

Question 3

Why is cystitis more common in women than men?

Answer 3

Because it is easier for bacteria to colonise the urethral opening in females and their urethra is shorter

Question 4

What virulence factor does Escherichia coli have which allows it to cause cystitis?

Answer 4

Escherichia coli has fimbriae which allow it to bind to urothelium and navigate to the bladder

Question 5

What are the symptoms of cystitis?

Answer 5

3 days from exposure
- Incomplete emptying
- Hesitancy
- Increased urination frequency
- Cramping/Lower abdominal pain when urinating
- Fever
- Malaise

Question 6

What tests can be used to diagnose cystitis?

Answer 6

Midstream urine sample
- Can confirm presence of bacteria in urine but takes time for lab to return results
- Only send if initial treatment doesn’t work to figure out specific pathogen

Dipstick
- Confirm presence of white blood cells in urine (pyuria)

Question 7

What is the treatment for cystitis?

Answer 7

Oral antibiotics that are quickly cleared by kidneys to end up in bladder
- Nitrofurantoin
- Trimethoprim

Question 8

What does Lactobacilli produce as a part of the microbial flora?

What can Staphylococcus saprophyticus do to mitigate this?

Answer 8

Lactobacilli produce hydrogen peroxide which kills competing flora.

Staphylococcus saprophyticus can detoxify hydrogen peroxide to survive