Care of a Patient With a UTI in the Home

Most cases of a urinary tract infection involve your lower urinary tract. This will include your bladder and urethra. According to the Mayo Clinic, women are more likely to develop UTIs. It is important to properly manage UTIs in order to prevent against complications such as pyelonephritis. Pyelonephritis is a serious infection of the kidneys. When caring for your patient, monitor for signs of fever over 101 degrees Fahrenheit, nausea and vomiting, pelvic pain and back pain, and shaking or chills. If these signs or present, seek immediate care for your patient.

Medications

• Administer any medications prescribed by your patient's physician. You may need to give your patient antibiotics for up to a week. Don't skip any doses. Medications need to be completed in order to ensure that any bacteria is cleared from your patient's bladder and urethra. If your patient's physician prescribes pain medication, be sure to give the medications as directed. Pain medications can ward off symptoms before they become unbearable.

Urine Tests

• Use urine tests to detect for the presence of recurrent UTIs. There are urine tests available through your patient's physician, or at grocery stores. You'll need a dipstick to place into a sample of your patient's urine to detect for the presence of bacteria. A dipstick is a paper stick that will change colors when it detects the presence of an infection in a urine sample.

Catheters

• If your patient has a catheter, it is important to routinely monitor for a UTI. If you begin to see blood in your patient's urine, or that the urine has a foul smell, have a urinalysis performed to see if your patient has a UTI. Seek immediate medical attention if your patient begins to become confused, has back pain, an urgency to urinate frequently, or fever and chills, as these are signs of an infection being present.

Hydration

• Make sure that your patient is adequately hydrated. This means giving enough fluids to your patient to have their urine run clear. Unsweetened cranberry juice can also help flush out bacteria within the urethra; which can help the UTI clear up faster. Don't let your patient drink caffeinated beverages or beverages that contain artificial sweeteners, as this can exacerbate their symptoms.

Other Methods

• If your patient can't use the restroom on their own and needs assistance, remember to wipe from front to back. This is especially necessary if you have a female patient. It is important to prevent the spreading of bacteria into the vaginal region, which can make a UTI worse. If your patient has abdominal pain, use a heating pain to help alleviate symptoms. Be sure to change your patient's undergarments frequently. If they wear incontinence products, change the product as soon as possible. If they wear underwear, allow them to wear only cotton, which is a breathable fabric.