• Cystitis. A bladder infection (cystitis) is the most common UTI in women. You may have an urgent or frequent need to pee. You may also have pain, burning when you pee, and bloody urine.

• Urethritis. This is an inflamed urethra. This is the tube that carries urine from the bladder to outside the body. You may have lower stomach or back pain. You may also have an urgent or frequent need to pee.

• Pyelonephritis. This is a kidney infection. It can be serious and damage your kidneys if not treated. You may need to stay in the hospital in severe cases. You may have a fever and lower back pain.

Most UTIs are treated with antibiotics. These kill the bacteria. The length of time you need to take them depends on the type of infection. It may be as short as 3 days. You may need a low-dose antibiotic for several months if you have repeated UTIs. Take antibiotics exactly as directed. Don’t stop taking them until all of the medicine is gone, even if you feel better. The infection may not go away fully and return if you stop taking the antibiotic too soon. You may also develop a resistance to the antibiotic. This can make it much harder to treat.

The lifestyle changes below will help get rid of your UTI. They may also help prevent future UTIs.

• Drink plenty of fluids. This includes water, juice, or other caffeine-free drinks. Fluids help flush bacteria out of your body.

• Empty your bladder. Always empty your bladder when you feel the urge to pee. And always pee before going to sleep. Urine that stays in your bladder can lead to infection. Try to pee before and after sex as well.

• Practice good personal hygiene. Wipe yourself from front to back after using the toilet. This helps keep bacteria from getting into the urethra.

• Wear cotton underwear. Don't wear synthetic or tight-fitting underwear that can trap moisture. Change out of wet bathing suits and workout clothing quickly.

• Take showers. Showers are better than baths for preventing UTIs.

• Use condoms during sex. These help prevent UTIs caused by sexually transmitted bacteria. Also don't use spermicides during sex. These can increase the risk for UTIs. Choose other forms of birth control instead. A low dose of a preventive antibiotic may be used for women who tend to get UTIs after sex. Be sure to discuss this choice with your healthcare provider.

• Follow up with your healthcare provider as directed. They may test to make sure the infection has cleared. If needed, more treatment may be started.

• Cystitis. This is a bladder infection. It's often caused by a blockage from an enlarged prostate. You may have an urgent or frequent need to pee. You may have bloody pee. Treatment includes antibiotics and medicine to relax or shrink the prostate. Some people need surgery.

• Urethritis. This is an infection of the urethra. You may have fluid from the urethra or a burning feeling when you pee. You may have pain in the urethra or penis. It's treated with antibiotics.

• Prostatitis. This is an inflammation or infection of the prostate. You may have an urgent or frequent need to pee, a burning feeling when you pee, or a fever. Or you may have a sore prostate or a vague feeling of pressure. Prostatitis is treated with a range of medicines. This depends on the cause.

• Pyelonephritis. This is a kidney infection. If not treated, it can be serious and damage your kidneys. In severe cases, you may need to stay in the hospital. You may have a fever and low back pain.

Most UTIs are treated with antibiotics. These kill the bacteria. The length of time you need to take them depends on the type of infection. Take antibiotics exactly as directed until all of the medicine is gone, even if you feel better. If you don't, the infection may not go away. It may become harder to treat. For some types of UTIs, you may be given other medicine to help treat your symptoms.

The lifestyle changes below will help get rid of your infection. They may help prevent future UTIs.

• Drink plenty of fluids. This includes water, juice, or other caffeine-free drinks. This helps flush bacteria out of your system.

• Empty your bladder when you feel the urge to pee and before going to sleep. Pee that stays in your bladder promotes infection.

• Use condoms during sex. These help prevent UTIs caused by bacteria spread from sex.

• Keep follow-up appointments with your healthcare provider. They may do tests to make sure the infection has cleared. If needed, more treatment can be started.

Most UTIs respond to medicine. Some people need a procedure or surgery. This may be done to treat an enlarged prostate. Or it can remove a kidney stone or other blockage. Surgery can be done to treat problems caused by scarring or long-term infections.

This tract includes the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. The kidneys filter blood and make urine. The ureters carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder. The bladder stores urine. The urethra carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body.

A urinary catheter is a thin, flexible tube. It's placed in the bladder to drain urine. Urine flows through the tube into a collecting bag outside of the body. There are different types of urinary catheters. The most common type is an indwelling catheter. This is also known as a urethral catheter. This is because it’s placed into the bladder through the urethra. It's also called a Foley catheter.

A urinary catheter is needed for any of these:

• You can't move around for a long time after surgery or injury.

• You have a surgery that requires you to be under anesthesia for a long time.

• You have a blockage in your urinary system.

• Your healthcare provider needs to precisely measure the amount of urine you pass.

• The function of your kidneys and bladder is being tested.

In most cases, the urinary catheter is short term. You'll need it only until the problem that needs it is taken care of. 

Bacteria can get into the urinary tract as the catheter is put into the urethra. Bacteria can also get into the urinary tract while the catheter is in place. The common bacteria that cause a CAUTI are ones that live in the intestine. These bacteria don’t normally cause problems in the intestine. But when they get into the urinary tract, an infection can occur.

Left untreated, a CAUTI can lead to health problems. These problems may include infections of the bladder, prostate, and kidney. A CAUTI can keep you in the hospital longer. If the infection is not treated in time, you may have serious health problems.

Tell a healthcare provider or seek medical care right away if you or a loved one has any of these symptoms:

• A burning feeling, pressure, or pain in your lower belly (abdomen)

• Fever or chills

• Urine in the collecting bag that is cloudy or bloody (pink or red)

• Burning feeling in the urethra or genital area

• Aching in your back (by the kidneys)

• Nausea and vomiting

• Confusion, sleepiness, or a change in behavior (mainly affects older people)

Sometimes you may not have any symptoms. But you may still have a CAUTI.

Your healthcare provider will order tests if you have symptoms of a CAUTI. These include a urine test and blood tests.

Treatment may involve any of these:

• Antibiotics. Your healthcare provider will likely prescribe antibiotics if you have symptoms. Be aware that if you don’t have symptoms, you may not be given antibiotics. This is to prevent an increase in bacteria that can’t be killed by certain antibiotics.

• Removing the catheter. The catheter will be taken out when your healthcare provider decides it’s no longer needed. This often helps stop the infection.

• Changing the catheter. If you still need a catheter, the old one will be taken out. A new one will be put in. This may help stop the infection.

To keep patients from getting a CAUTI, staff members take these steps:

• Prescribe a catheter only when it’s needed. It's taken out as soon as it’s no longer needed.

• Wash their hands or use an alcohol-based hand cleanser before doing catheter care.

• Use a clean (sterile) method when placing the catheter into the urinary tract. To do that, before putting the catheter in, the caregiver washes their hands with soap and water. Then they put on sterile gloves. A sterile catheter kit that has cleansers is used to cleanse the genital area.

• Hang the bag lower than your bladder. This helps stop urine from flowing back into your bladder.

• Check that the bag is emptied regularly.

• Do clean intermittent catheterization. This means a catheter is put in so you can urinate. It's then taken out right away. It may be done several times a day.

You can help prevent a CAUTI by doing the following:

• Every day, ask your healthcare provider how long you need to have the catheter. The longer you have a catheter, the higher your chance of getting a CAUTI.

• Ask a caregiver to clean their hands and put on gloves before touching your catheter.

• If you’ve been taught how to care for your catheter, wash your hands before and after each session.

• Check that your bag is lower than your bladder. If it’s not, tell your caregiver.

• Don’t disconnect the catheter and drain tube. Doing so lets germs get into the catheter.

• Cleaning the genital and perineal areas is very important. It helps decrease bacteria around the catheter. Ask your healthcare provider what you should use and how often to clean these areas.

• Before you leave the hospital, make sure you know how to care for your catheter at home.

• Ask your healthcare provider how long you need the catheter. Also ask if you need to make a follow-up appointment to have the catheter taken out.

• Always use a clean (sterile) method when caring for your catheter. Wash your hands before and after doing any catheter care.

• Call your healthcare provider or seek medical care right away if you develop symptoms of a CAUTI (see above).