Chapter 26 - Microbial Diseases of the Urinary and Reproductive System

MICR130 Final Exam

physical and chemical features of the urinary system

infections are precented by:

• valves that prevent blackfolow to the kidneys

• acidity of urin

• mechanical flushing

Urinary Tract Infections

Most common cause is Escherichia coli

• common inhabitant of gut

• since proximity, females are more prone

Predominant microbes of the female urinary/reproductive microbiome

lactobacilli

• helps maintain low pH

• growth is promoted by the hormone, estrogen

• competes with yeast

Streptococci, Bacteroids, anaerobes, some gram-negatives

Candida albicans (yeast)

• affected by antibiotics, birth control, pregnagncy, obesity

Predominant microbes of the Male urinary/reproductive microbiome

commonly reminiscent of skin microbiota

lactobacillys, corynebacterium, staphylococcus, streptococcus

composition shows similarities with adjacent anatomical sites

Urethritis

inflammation of the urethra

Cystitis

inflammation of the bladder

occurs when bacteria from the gut enter the urinary tract through the urethra

most commonly caused by E.coli

more common in women

symptoms: difficult or painful urination, frequent peeing, etc

Pyelonephritis

inflammation of 1 or both kidneys

UTI complication

75% of cases caused by E.coli

symptoms: fever and flank pain, blood in urine, etc

• can lead to sepsis

Sexually Transmitted Infections

Often no Signs of Symptoms

age group most affected: 15-24 years olds

trends are going upward

most of these infections can be prevented with condoms

Gonorrhea

Cuased by Neisseria gonorrhoae

affects mucus membranes of the reproductive tract

• causes inflammation, forms pus, pain or buring when urinating

• ophthalimia neonatum: infant blindness due to untreated infection of the mother

Gonorrhea symptoms

symptoms differ between men and women

men: painful urination and discharge of pus

women: fewer acute symptoms; pelvic inflammatory disease

• bacterical infeciton of the femal pelvic organs

Complications of Gonorrhea

No protective immunity agianst future infections

cases on the rise

resistance to antibiotics on the rise

Cefriazone is currently the only CDC recommended treatment

Syphlilis

Caused by Treponema pallidum

• gram negative spirochete, grows slowly in cell culture

enters bloodstream inducing inflammatory response

some strains cause the skin disease Yaw

this infection is easily treated with a single shot of penicillin

Stages of syphilis

1. primary stage

• chancre at sight of infection —> painless and hihgly infectious

2. secondary stage

• skin and mucosal rashes especially on the palms and soles

• latent period: no symptoms

3. Tertiary stage

• years after latency (when left untreated)

• Gummatous syphilis, Cardiovascular syphilis, Neurosyphilis

Congenital: pregnant mom passes syphilis to fetus; can result in miscarriage, stillbirth, birth defects, etc.

Genital herpes

Caused by Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2)

symptoms: painful vesicles on the genitals; painful urination

virus lays latent in nerve cells

no cure

symptoms can be managed with antivirals that can be taken daily to reduce outbreaks

Genital Warts

Caused by Human Papillomaviruses (HPV)

visible warts caused by serotypes 6 and 11

Serotypes 16 and 18 cause cervical cancer; kills 4000 women in the US annually

treatment via removal of wrts, removal of parts of the cervix

prevention with the quadrivalent or non-valent HPV vaccine

Candidiasis (fungal infection)

caused by candida albicans

• opportunistic overgrowth caused by: antibiotic use, diabetes, changes in hormone leves

oral candidiasis: thrush - overgrowth of yeast in mouth

Vulvovaginal candidiasis: vaginitis

• yeast, thick, yellow discharge; itching

• easily treated with antifungals