Urinary tract infection (UTI)

To find out whether you have a UTI, your doctor will test a sample of urine for pus and bacteria. You will be asked to give a "clean catch" urine sample by washing the genital area and collecting a "midstream" sample of urine in a sterile container. This method of collecting urine helps prevent bacteria around the genital area from getting into the sample and confusing the test results. Usually, the sample is sent to a laboratory, although some doctors' offices are equipped to do the testing.

A urinary track infection (UTI) can occur anywhere between the kidney and the urethra (the tube leading from the bladder to the outside). However, they may have different names; such as kidney infections are called pyleonephritis, bladder infections are termed cystitis, and urethra infections are called bacteriuria.

On an outpatient basis, it is the second most common infection among adults. It is estimated that 7 million visits a year occur in primary care, and about 1 million in the emergency room. These numbers are probably significantly higher, as infections sometimes are symptomless. These infections are cleared naturally from the system and no treatment is necessary, although exceptions exist.