Clinical Case of Urinary Tract Infection

Clinical case of urinary tract infection 1
CLINICAL CASE OF URINARY TRACT INFECTION
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation

Clinical case of urinary tract infection 2
Urinary tract infection refers to a bacterial infection of any part of the urinary system.
The urinary system comprises of various organs such as the urethra, bladder, ureters and kidneys.
Bacteria may invade any of these parts causing a urinary tract infection. So as to invade the
urinary tract, bacteria may enter through the urethra and invade the bladder where they multiply
(Williams & Craig, 2019). The body is designed to offer self-defense against the invasion of
bacterial infections. However the immune system may be compromised and the bacteria may
multiply in the system leading to a serious urinary tract infection. Mr. Kirk man is an example of
a patient suffering from a urinary tract infection. The aim of this discussion is to critically
analyze Mr. Kirkman’s case study and explain the pathogenesis behind his clinical manifestation,
nursing strategies as well as analyze some of his diagnostic results.
Mr. Kirkman’s clinical manifestations are common symptoms related to urinary tract
infections. He experiences a burning sensation while urinating that radiates to the right flank.
Other classical characteristics and symptoms associated with urinary tract infections include
increased urge to urinate, urinary hesitancy, cloudy urinary output and pelvic pain. The
pathophysiology of the condition involves an interplay of several factors that negatively impact
the urinary system. E.coli forms the main type of bacteria that causes urinary tract infections. It
accounts for about 80% of the community acquired infections (Flores-Mireles et al, 2015).
Urinary tract infections can also be hospital acquired. This is mainly caused by use of
catheterization equipment that carries the bacteria. E.coli accounts for about 50% of hospital
acquired urinary tract infections. Other bacteria involved in the pathophysiology of urinary tract
infections include klebsiella, proteus and enterococcus faecalis. The bacteria invade the urinary
tract through two main routes, ascending and descending routes.

Clinical case of urinary tract infection 3
The ascending route is the most common form of Urinary tract infections and occurs
when bacteria ascend through the urethra to the bladder and then to the ureters into the kidneys
leading to pyelonephritis (Saint et al, 2016). The descending form occurs when septicemia leads
to kidney infections and is not dependent on the urethral uptake of bacteria. Once the bacteria
invade the urinary system, they multiply and it becomes difficult for the immune system to
defeat them and this leads to complications (Tandogdu & Wagenlehner, 2016). Mr. Kirkman’s
clinical presentation of a burning sensation during urination may be explained by the fact that the
bacterial infections in the urinary system provoke an immune response hence leading to
inflammation in the epithelial linings of the bladder and the urethra. Urinary tract infections
causes inflammatory responses as a result of the immune system combating the threat of
infection. The classical signs of inflammation include pain and therefore the dysuria experienced
is as a result of increased bacteria invasion in the epithelial linings of the urinary system.
The severity of urinary tract infections ranges from mild levels to very severe conditions
that require immediate management. There are therefore two types of the infection.
Uncomplicated urinary tract infections that results from low bacterial count and complicated
urinary tract infections that may be unresponsive to treatment (Grabe et al, 2015). Mr. Kirkman
has a severe form of urinary tract infection. This can be well indicated by the fact that his
condition was deteriorating even after efforts to manage him. His condition has progressed to
such an extent that he has developed sepsis.
Sepsis results when blood is infected by bacteria and the bacteria spreads to other body
organs (Keren et al, 2015). This can be fatal as it may lead to multiple organ failure. The current
situation of Mr. Kirkman shows that his blood pressure levels have significantly dropped to low
levels and a significant increase in the heart rate above normal ranges. This could be attributed to