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Urinary Tract Infection Specialist

Ocala Infectious Disease and Wound Center

Infectious Disease Physicians & Wound Care Specialists located in Ocala, FL

You may think of a urinary tract infection (UTI) as a minor problem that’s easy to cure. But if you develop recurrent or complicated UTIs, you need specialized treatment to overcome the problem. At Ocala Infectious Disease and Wound Center, Haris Mirza, MD, has extensive experience providing advanced treatments for UTIs that fail to improve with standard treatment. If you live around The Villages, Citrus County, Lake County, and Sumter County, learn about your treatment options by calling the office in Ocala, Florida, or booking an appointment online.

Urinary Tract Infection Q&A

What causes urinary tract infections?

You develop a UTI when bacteria get inside your urinary tract. The bacteria may stop at your urethra or travel further into your urinary system, reaching your bladder, kidney, or in men, the prostate gland.

The name of your UTI depends on its location:

  • Urethritis is a urethral infection
  • Cystitis is a bladder infection
  • Pyelonephritis is a kidney infection
  • Prostatitis is a prostate infection

UTIs are quite common in women. They occur less frequently in men, but the risk increases with age.

What symptoms develop if I have a urinary tract infection?

A mild UTI may heal without ever causing a symptom. If you develop symptoms, however, you experience one or more of the following:

  • Frequent need to urinate
  • Strong urge to urinate
  • Urine leakage
  • Eliminating a small amount of urine
  • Strong-smelling urine
  • Cloudy urine
  • Dark or pink urine
  • Lower abdominal pain

Fever, nausea, and upper back pain are signs of a kidney infection.

What is a complicated urinary tract infection?

Though UTIs are common, they’re not always easy to treat. In men, UTIs are always considered to be complicated because the infection often occurs due to an enlarged prostate. Men are also at a higher risk of having the infection spread to their kidneys.

Women and men have a complicated UTI when any of these problems occur:

  • Recurrent UTIs
  • UTI during pregnancy
  • UTI in patients with kidney disease
  • UTI in kidney transplant patients
  • UTI in patients with a weak immune system
  • UTI caused by an unusual microorganism such as yeast
  • UTI after insertion of tubes, stents, or catheters

You also have a complicated UTI if you have a blockage in your urinary tract, such as kidney stones, a tumor, or a structural defect.

How are urinary tract infections treated?

Oral antibiotics are the first line of treatment for a simple UTI. If you have an underlying condition associated with the UTI, you also need treatment for that specific problem.

Complicated UTIs, however, require more extensive and expert care. UTIs that resist treatment and recurrent UTIs can cause sepsis. Sepsis occurs when your body releases chemicals to fight a chronic infection, but they trigger inflammation throughout your body.

Dr. Mirza offers specialized therapies to treat your UTI, such as IV infusions of antibiotics and/or nutrients. You may also need hydration therapy to promote your overall health and support healing.

If you need help with a urinary tract infection, call Ocala Infectious Disease and Wound Center or book an appointment online.