Chronic urinary tract infection (UTI) is a bacterial infection of the bladder or lower urinary tract (urethra) that lasts for a long time.

There are many different forms of UTIs. This article focuses on chronic infections.

See also:

• Catheter-associated UTI
• Urinary tract infection
• Recurrent UTI

UTI - chronic; Cystitis - chronic

Most urinary tract infections occur in the lower urinary tract, which includes the bladder and urethra. The condition occurs when the normally clean lower urinary tract is infected by bacteria and becomes inflamed. Urinary tract infections are very common.

Most of the time, symptoms of a urinary tract infection disappear within 24 - 48 hours after treatment begins. However, if the condition occurs more than twice in 6 months, lasts longer than 2 weeks, or does not respond to usual treatment, it is considered chronic.

The elderly are at increased risk for such infections because the bladder doesn't empty fully due to such conditions as benign prostatic hyperplasia, prostatitis, and urethral strictures.

The following increase your risk for chronic UTIs:

• Being in a nursing home
• Bowel incontinence
• Foley catheter
• Lack of fluids
• Limited or no movement

• Abnormal urine color -- cloudy
• Blood in the urine (hematuria)
• Foul or strong urine odor
• Frequent need to urinate (frequency)
• Need to urinate at night
• Painful urination (dysuria)
• Pressure in the lower pelvis
• Urgent need to urinate (urgency)

Other symptoms that can occur with this disease:

• Chills
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Mental changes or confusion
• Nausea and vomiting

In young girls, recurrent urinary tract infections may be a sign of a problem with the urinary tract (such as vesicoureteral reflux), and should be checked by a health care provider.

In boys, even a single urinary tract infection should be checked, because urinary tract infections in boys are very uncommon unless there are problems with the urinary tract.

Tests include:

• Abdominal ultrasound or abdominal x-ray
• Urinalysis
• Urine culture (clean catch) or catheterized urine specimen

A urine culture that is positive for more than 2 weeks, even with treatment, indicates a chronic UTI.