As you navigate complicated user interfaces, you may come across words and terms you don’t know. Here is a list of the most common ones you might encounter.
Antibiotic: drugs that eliminate bacteria to prevent them from multiplying; is used to treat bacterial infections
Antibiotic resistance (ABR): When germs such as bacteria or fungi change (mutate), they can become resistant to drugs used to kill them or prevent them from growing. This is called RAB.
Bacteria: Very small (single-celled) organisms that are not visible to the naked eye
Bubble: A hollow, spherical organ that stores urine until it is disposed of
Blood infection: Blood infection
Urinary catheter-associated urinary tract infection (UTI): A urinary tract infection associated with wearing or using a urinary catheter is called a urinary tract infection.
Complicated urinary tract infection (cUTI): A urinary tract infection with symptoms that suggest it has spread beyond the bladder, including fever and pyelonephritis (kidney infection).
Cystitis: Inflammation of the bladder, often caused by a bladder infection
Dysuria: Discomfort, pain or burning when urinating
Flank pain: Pain in the side of the body between the ribs and hips
Hematuria: Red blood cells (blood) in your urine
Lower urinary tract: The part of the urinary tract that includes your bladder and urethra (the tube that carries urine out of your body).
Pyelonephritis A kidney infection
Recurring UI: Urinary tract infections that occur two or more times within six months or three times within a year. Recurring UIs are not necessarily complicated UIs. They are also known as chronic urinary tract infections.
Sepsis: An extreme reaction of the body to an infection; a potentially fatal emergency
Systemic symptoms: These are symptoms that affect more than one part of your body other than your bladder. These include fever, chills, low blood pressure or feeling very unwell.
Upper urinary tract: This part of the urinary tract includes your kidneys and ureters (tubes that carry urine from your kidneys to your bladder).
Urinalysis: A test that checks urine for various substances, including blood and bacteria. However, there is no indication of what type of bacteria was detected.
Urine probe: A thin, flexible rubber or plastic tube that is inserted through your urethra into your bladder and allows urine to flow out
Urinary frequency: Urge to urinate more frequently than normal (more than seven times in 24 hours)
Urinary incontinence: Accidental or involuntary loss of urine, loss of bladder control
Urinary retention: The inability to completely empty the bladder
Urge to urinate: Sudden and strong urge to urinate
Urine culture: A urine test that identifies bacteria and other germs in urine. If bacteria are found, these tests can show which types of antibiotics are most likely to work.