Urinary Tract Infections – What Is Causing Them?

“Mortality rates for invasive infections are estimated to be over 40%, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC).”

In clinical practice urinary tract infections (UTI) are a constant issue facing women—many have one or more outbreaks per year lasting several days—but because the only solution being offered by the medical system are antibiotics, this is very stressful for those affected. Repeated antibiotic treatment might create the bedding ground for future outbreaks and that repeated use can make the antibiotics less effective resulting in stronger and stronger treatments. As a result of aging and the consumption of the typical Canadian diet one might start lacking several trace minerals which can create the bedding ground for infections. UTI infections have been also associated with a weakened immunity  and it has been known that “[m]ore than 80% of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in healthy individuals are caused by uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) that originate from the gut.”[1] In the past few years, however, there has been evidence that indicates “a decrease in the percentage of UTI caused by Escherichia coli, Proteus and Pseudomonas species and an increase in the percentage of UTI caused by fungi, especially Candida species and especially in critically ill patients.”[2]

Bacterial Urinary Tract Infections

The urinary tract, spanning from the kidneys to the urethral meatus, is normally sterile and resilient against bacterial colonization, despite the frequent presence of colonic bacteria near the urethra. Key defenses against urinary tract infections (UTIs) include complete bladder emptying during urination, urine acidity, the vesicoureteral valve, and various immunologic and mucosal barriers. Approximately 95% of UTIs occur when bacteria ascend the urethra to the bladder, with the remaining cases being hematogenous. Uncomplicated UTIs typically affect premenopausal adult women without structural abnormalities, while complicated UTIs involve factors such as pregnancy, comorbidities, or urinary tract abnormalities.

Risk factors for UTIs vary between sexes and include sexual intercourse, diaphragm and spermicide use, antibiotic use, and a history of UTIs. Anatomic, structural, and functional abnormalities increase UTI risk, with vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) being a common consequence of anatomic abnormalities. Bacterial UTIs are primarily caused by enteric, gram-negative aerobic bacteria, with Escherichia coli being the predominant pathogen. UTIs can manifest as urethritis, cystitis, acute urethral syndrome, asymptomatic bacteriuria, or acute pyelonephritis, each with distinct clinical features. Diagnosis involves urinalysis and sometimes urine culture, with imaging studies considered for complicated cases or recurrent infections. Treatment varies based on the type and severity of the UTI.

Fungal Urinary Tract Infections

Candida species, typically considered opportunistic pathogens, are naturally present in the human body but have seen a significant increase in infections, particularly Candida albicans and non-albicans species, making them prominent causes of nosocomial infections. Candiduria, the detection of Candida species in urine samples, poses a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge for physicians across primary care, infectious diseases, intensive medicine, and surgery. Interpreting candiduria reports is complex, as the presence of Candida in urine may indicate various conditions, spanning from sample contamination to urinary tract infections and even disseminated candidiasis, presenting serious public health concerns.

Various Candida species can be isolated from urine cultures, with Candida albicans being the most commonly reported. A concerning emergence is Candida auris, first identified in Japan in 2009, and now recognized globally as a nosocomial pathogen with high mortality rates and resistance to multiple antifungal agents, especially fluconazole. Its challenging microbiological identification, possession of virulence factors, and rapid global spread, marked by reported outbreaks, position C. auris as a serious and emerging pathogen.

C. auris poses a significant risk to individuals who are already seriously ill or immunocompromised, particularly those in hospitals and nursing homes. Mortality rates for invasive infections are estimated to be over 40%, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC). The potential for outbreaks in healthcare and long-term care facilities raises concerns, prompting experts to emphasize the importance of surveillance, early diagnosis, and testing to prevent further spread. Healthy individuals typically do not become seriously ill with the pathogen. However, the ease with which C. auris spreads, living on surfaces and being challenging to clean, poses a significant challenge.[3]

Risk factors for fungal infections can vary; mRNA vaccines might be one of them. “[A]dverse effects following vaccination have been noted which may relate to a proinflammatory action of the lipid nanoparticles used or the delivered mRNA (i.e., the vaccine formulation), as well as to the unique nature, expression pattern, binding profile, and proinflammatory effects of the produced antigens – spike (S) protein and/or its subunits/peptide fragments – in human tissues or organs.”[4]

They don’t make diseases like they used to, today they are much harder to control. How the weakened human body, heavily influenced by environmental toxins, the overuse of antibiotics, the processed diet and recently the side effects of mRNA jab is creating an systematic imbalance. Fungal infections and viruses are becoming more prevalent and more lethal while the immune system begins failing on so many levels. For a healthy person the best defence is to prevent the deterioration of our health by the practice of preventive measures.

Some potentially effective strategies and methods can boost immune defenses to contain or prevent more common urinary tract infections. Life Choice® UTI Health can be one of them.

  • licensed by Health Canada
  • one packet taken daily helps prevent/reduce the risk of recurrent UTIs in women
  • helps to produce and repair connective tissue
  • helps to prevent manganese deficiency
  • helps to maintain normal iron transport in the body
  • helps to form red blood cells
  • helps in the development and maintenance of bones

The medicinal ingredients include copper, manganese, D-mannose and cranberry juice extract powder.

  • Cranberries contain two compounds with anti-adherence properties that prevent fimbriated Escherichia coli from adhering to uroepithelial cells in the urinary tract.
  • D-mannose, a variety of sugar related to glucose and found in several fruits, may have the ability of preventing certain kinds of bacteria from sticking to the walls of the urinary tract and causing infection.
  • Lacking trace minerals can create the bedding ground for infections. One that is typically lacking is copper which is known to resist infections and bacterial growth.
  • “Manganese plays an essential role in many cellular processes including lipid, protein, and carbohydrate metabolism. It also contributes to protection against oxidative stress, is a cofactor for a number of enzymes in bacteria and other organisms, and can also contribute directly to the catalytic detoxification of reactive oxygen species.”[5]

Additional Reading:

References:

  • Adverse effects of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines: the spike hypothesis. Trends in molecular medicine 28,7: 542-554. doi:10.1016/j.molmed.2022.04.007

[1] Abraham, Soman N. – Miao, Yuxuan. 2015.

[2] Dias, Vanessa. 2020.

[3] Lee, Jennifer. 2023.

[4] Trougakos, Ioannis P et al. 2022.

[5] Porcheron, Gaëlle et al. 2013.