A bladder infection is most commonly caused by a type of bacterium called Escherichia coli, or E. coli. These bacteria can travel from outside of the body into the urethra, a narrow tube that normally transports urine out of the body from the bladder. From the urethra, the bacteria can enter the bladder, where they begin to replicate, causing a bladder infection. People who do not receive prompt and appropriate antibiotic treatment can develop complications with bladder infections.
Recurrent Bladder Infections
Approximately 20 percent of women who develop a bladder infection will experience a second infection, National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse health professionals warn. While the cause of these chronic bladder infections is unclear, affected patients can become resistant to antibiotic treatment. Antibiotic resistance can result in longer or more severe bladder infection episodes.
Kidney Infection
In the absence of antibiotic treatment, bacteria from the bladder can travel up the ureters into a patient's kidneys. Bacteria that replicate within the kidneys can cause pyelonephritis, a kidney infection complication with bladder infections. Back pain, a high fever, nausea or blood within the urine can occur as symptoms of a kidney infection in affected patients, Patient UK medical experts explain. Bacterial growth in the kidneys can also cause permanent scarring or damage to these organs. A patient who develops a kidney infection as a complication with a bladder infection requires immediate treatment to avoid additional medical problems.
Blood Infection
Bacteria within the kidneys can spread to a patient's bloodstream, leading to a severe infection called sepsis. The risk of developing sepsis as a complication with bladder infections is highest in older adults or young children with weak immune systems, MedlinePlus medical experts report. Blood infection symptoms can be life-threatening and include body temperature changes, chills, dizziness, increased heart or breathing rate, confusion or skin rash. Patients with sepsis can experience a drop in blood pressure accompanied by organ system dysfunction.
Pregnancy Problems
Approximately 2 to 4 percent of pregnant women experience a bladder infection during pregnancy due to hormonal fluctuations and changes in the positioning of the urinary tract, NKUDIC medical experts explain. If an infection is left undetected or untreated, expectant mothers can experience pregnancy problems as complications with bladder infections. These problems can include early labor or delivery of a low-birth-weight baby, MayoClinic.com medical experts warn. Women should be monitored by a doctor throughout pregnancy to ensure that bladder problems are promptly resolved.
References
- National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse: Urinary Tract Infections in Adults
- MayoClinic.com: Urinary Tract Infections - Complications
- Patient UK: Kidney Infection (Pyelonephritis)
- University of California, Berkeley - University Health Services: Bladder Infection
- MedlinePlus: Urinary Tract Infection--Adults - Possible Complications
