Occupational Therapy and Medical Approaches, Research Paper Example

Differences and Similarities between Occupational Therapy and Medical Approaches to the Diagnosis, Prevalence and Treatment of Urinary Tract Infection

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) is a bacterial infection of the urinary tract- kidney, ureters, urethra and bladder. UTI is caused by a bacterium known as Escherichia coli, which enters the urinary tract and colonizes the epithelium lining of the bladder. The urinary tract is responsible for waste removal, chiefly urine. However, if the urine contains the bacteria, it gets into the urinary tract via the urethra and into the bladder, where it begins to multiply. When the protective outer coating of the bladder (defensins and cathelicidin) is damaged, the epithelium gets exposed to the bacteria, which infects it and causes inflammation (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2010). It is this inflammation of the epithelium which causes patients to feel frequent urges to urinate and experience pain during urination. With reference to medical and occupational therapy sources, this paper compares and contrasts medical and rehabilitation approaches to the diagnosis, prevalence and treatment of Urinary Tract Infection. The two sources are Urinary Tract Infection by Mayo Clinic Staff (medical perspective) and Urinary Tract Infections by Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital (occupational therapist perspective).

Diagnosis

From a medical perspective, diagnosis for UTI involves laboratory analysis of urine samples to determine tale-tell signs such as presence of red blood cells, pus and bacteria.  Similarly, urine culture (laboratory growing of bacteria using the patient’s urine sample) is used to determine the type of bacterial infection and the appropriate medical prescriptions. However, the rehabilitation source does not identify any tests to determine UTI, but only mentions the means of infection. They include:

• urine staying in the bladder for too long
• when the bladder gets too full
• urine backing up into the kidney due to high pressure in the bladder
• using infected catheters

Similarities in symptoms and signs

• persistent urge to urinate
• feeling pain when urinating
• passing cloudy urine

Differences

In addition, the rehabilitation source gives a general diagnosis of UTI, while the medical source identifies three distinct types of UTIs. They are:

• Kidney infection (acute pyelonephritis): symptoms include pain in the upper back and side, nausea, high fever, vomiting and chills.
• Bladder infection (cystitis): symptoms include pelvic pressure, frequent and painful urination, lower abdomen pain and blood traces in the urine.
• Urethra infection (urethritis): patients experience a burning sensation during urination (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2010).

Differences and similarities in how the patient population impacted are discussed.

The rehabilitation source does not identify categories of people who are vulnerable to UTI. Its only similarity with the medical source is that it points out catheterization as a common cause of UTI, thus suggesting that patients with difficulties in passing urine are most vulnerable to urinary tract infections. In contrast, the Mayo Clinic Staff associates prevalence of UTI to several population groups. They include:

• Being female: women are vulnerable to UTI because of their anatomy. They have a shorter urethra than men, which shortens the distance bacteria travels to reach the bladder.
• Sexually active women.
• Women who use birth controls such as diaphragms.
• Women who have reached menopause because their estrogen levels declines, making the urinary tract vulnerable to infection.
• People with blocked urinary tracts caused by kidney stones or prostrate cancer. Blockage of the urinary tract traps urine in the bladder, which increases the chances of bacterial infection.
• People with poor immune systems as a result of diabetes, which lowers the body’s defense mechanisms against germs.

Differences and similarities for recommendation and/or treatment for urinary tract infection.

The rehabilitation source recommends home remedies for mild symptoms such as chills and fever. It states that “if you have high fever take two Tylenol to lower your temperature, cool off with a fan in case of high fever, and wash with lukewarm water” (Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital, 2005). On the other hand, the medical source advises patients to seek immediate medical attention. It identifies antibiotic drugs as the most appropriate treatment for simple UTI, such as Bactrin and Septra, Amoxicillin, Ampicilin, Levofloxacin and Ciprofloxacin, and intravenous antibiotics for severe infections (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2010).

Treatment from an occupational therapist perspective.

The Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital recommends a number of home-based therapies for the treatment of UTI. They include:

• Drinking lots of liquids: this will help to clear the bacteria from the bladder. It advises patients to consume a minimum of two liters of fluids daily, including health juices like cranberry and apple juice.
• Eating foods rich in vitamin C to strengthen the immune system. Proteins are necessary to enhance quick healing after an infection.

As a preventive measure, the source recommends observing basic hygiene, such as washing hands after touching urine or feces, and always using clean catheters.

In conclusion, urinary tract infection (UTI) is a bacterial infection that normally affects the urinary tract, which consists of the kidneys, urethra, ureters and the bladder. The bacterium Escherichia coli is the major cause of UTI, and infection occurs when it gets into and multiplies in the bladder. Common symptoms include pain during urination, frequent urge to urinate and passing of cloudy urine. Medical and rehabilitation approaches recommend different treatment therapies for UTI. While the medical approach recommends prescription drugs, the rehabilitation approach recommends home remedies such as taking fluids, foods rich in vitamins and protein and observing basic hygiene.

References

Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital. (2005). Urinary Tract Infections. Retrieved July 31, 2011 <http://www.caregivercollege.org/sci/sci_website/08/images/uti.pdf. Web.

Mayo Clinic Staff. (2010). Urinary Tract Infection. Retrieved July 31, 2011 <http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/urinary-tract-infection/DS00286/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs. Web.