A urinary tract infection is an infection that occurs when bacteria infect any part of the urinary system, which includes
UTIs often occur in the lower urinary tract, which includes the bladder and urethra. They develop when bacteria enter the urethra and multiply in the bladder.
Symptoms of a UTI include:
You may also notice that your urine is cloudy, red, bright pink, or cola-colored, which indicates that blood is present. Many people experience pelvic pain with UTIs as well, especially women.
Symptoms of a UTI are similar to symptoms of other conditions, such as:
The best way to determine whether you have a UTI or something else is to schedule a visit with us at TBH Medical. We consider your specific symptoms and urinalysis results to confirm the presence of bacteria and infection before making a diagnosis.
Resource: https://www.cdc.gov/uti/about/index.html
The primary treatment for a bacterial UTI is an antibiotic prescription. Based on your medical history and the type of bacteria causing the UTI, we may prescribe a three-day course of antibiotics or a longer course for seven to 10 days. In some cases, we may prescribe a medication that numbs your bladder and urethra to help alleviate the painful burning sensation of urinating.
Most bacterial UTIs require antibiotic treatment to clear the infection and prevent it from spreading to your kidneys. Although some mild UTI symptoms may resolve without antibiotics, it's not worth the risk of leaving a bacterial infection untreated. At TBH Medical, we prescribe the right antibiotic and dose to safely treat your UTI.
While over-the-counter medications and natural remedies can help alleviate UTI symptoms, they don't treat the underlying infection. You can take over-the-counter products that contain phenazopyridine to help relieve the painful burning sensation of a UTI and reduce your urge to urinate. Drinking plenty of water and unsweetened cranberry juice can also help flush bacteria out of your urinary tract. These should be used as complementary techniques alongside medical treatment.
At TBH Medical, we are a direct primary care provider, meaning we focus on the doctor-patient relationship and accessibility. As a member of our practice, you already have your medical history, allergies, and specific needs on file. This means we can skip the waiting room and get started on individualized care specific to you.
By using a direct primary care provider for treatment, you will receive uninterrupted time from a nurse practitioner who already knows you as a patient. Advantages of using our direct primary care model include:
This means you'll get the prescription and the relief you need much more quickly than at any other medical office.
Yes, addressing acute conditions like a UTI is one of the many benefits of direct primary care at TBH Medical. We leave space in our schedules to address the urgent needs of our members. You should be able to get a same-day or next-day appointment to get your infection assessed and treated.
To diagnose a UTI, we will ask about your symptoms and perform a simple urine test called a urinalysis. You will provide a clean catch urine sample that we will test for the presence of:
This simple test should provide us with enough information to get you started on a treatment plan.
Most of the time, a simple urinalysis will be enough to treat an uncomplicated UTI. If your symptoms are severe, or if you get UTIs frequently, or if treatment hasn't been successful, we may need to run a urine culture. A urine culture will help us determine which bacteria are causing your infection and which antibiotic will be most effective against them. We can get this lab test done quickly and at a relatively low cost.
Through direct primary care, we offer virtual appointments to evaluate your symptoms via telehealth. In some cases, depending on your medical history and the clarity of your symptoms, we may be able to call in an antibiotic prescription for you without needing an in-office urinalysis. If we do need a urine sample, we can make dropping it off at our office in Colorado Springs or another local lab very easy.
Resource: https://medlineplus.gov/urinarytractinfections.html
To prevent UTIs, stay hydrated and practice good hygiene. Drink plenty of water every day to dilute your urine and promote frequent urination, which helps flush bacteria out of your urinary tract. Wiping from front to back after using the toilet and urinating shortly after intercourse are also highly effective ways to prevent UTIs.
If you have recurrent UTIs (two in six months or three or more within one year), we will conduct a more extensive medical evaluation to determine the cause, including anatomical issues or hormonal changes. Depending on the outcome of this evaluation, we may recommend a specialized prevention plan that could include a daily low-dose antibiotic or non-antimicrobial prevention methods.
Yes, making specific lifestyle changes can greatly reduce your risk of getting a UTI. Avoid using potentially irritating feminine hygiene products, such as deodorant sprays or douches, and wear cotton underwear. We will also discuss supplements such as D-mannose or cranberry extract, which some research suggests may prevent bacterial adhesion to the urinary tract walls.
At TBH Medical, we charge no copay or office fee for evaluating and treating a UTI. Your consultation and evaluation are 100% covered by your monthly membership fee, whether we meet in-office or virtually. You will only be responsible for the direct cost of any external lab culture or prescription medication you might need.
Yes, we cover acute care visits (like UTI care) as part of your TBH Medical membership plan. You can reach out to your nurse practitioner as many times as needed to address urgent concerns like this without incurring a visit fee. Our goal is to remove the financial burden of per-visit fees from your primary care.
While your TBH Medical membership covers your office visit and in-office urinalysis, you will pay a fee if we need to send a urine culture to an external lab or if you need prescription medication. However, we have negotiated the lowest wholesale prices for both labs and prescriptions and pass these discounts on to you.
Yes, we can safely treat pregnant women with UTIs at TBH Medical. In fact, UTIs during pregnancy are very common and need immediate attention to ensure the health of both you and your baby.
We will only prescribe antibiotics for your UTI that are known to be safe during pregnancy, and we will follow up with you to confirm that your infection has cleared.
If your symptoms persist or worsen after completing your course of antibiotics, please reach out to us right away. This may mean that the bacteria causing your infection are resistant to the first antibiotic, or that another complication has arisen. In this situation, we will probably send a urine culture for testing and start you on a new antibiotic that is tailored to fight the specific bacteria causing your infection.
Yes. If you have a complicated UTI or the infection has begun to spread to your kidneys, we will offer you an aggressive, closely monitored treatment plan. This will usually mean a longer course of a targeted antibiotic, with close follow-up. If your infection is severe enough to warrant intravenous antibiotics or hospital admission, we will collaborate with local specialists and hospital staff here in Colorado Springs to manage your care.
One of the biggest benefits of TBH Medical is direct access to your nurse practitioner after hours. Reach out to us if you suddenly have worsening symptoms such as:
We will immediately evaluate your needs and determine the best course of action to keep you safe.
Yes, we offer telehealth and virtual consultations for the evaluation and treatment of UTIs. If you are an established patient who has classic symptoms of a UTI, a virtual visit is an extremely convenient way to receive an evaluation and prescription without the need to leave your home. We use secure messaging platforms to protect your privacy while offering timely care.
TBH Medical has an in-office wholesale dispensary for our members. In many cases, we can fill your antibiotic prescription in our office during your visit. This is one less errand for you to run! If you prefer to fill your prescription at a commercial pharmacy, or if we don't have the medication you need in our dispensary, we will promptly send your prescription to your preferred pharmacy.