Urinary Tract Infection and Associated Risk Factors in Post-Menopausal Women

Atrophic changes of the vagina, vulva, and urinary tract have a large impact on quality of life of an elderly woman, the symptoms being progressive in nature and worsening with time. Common symptoms of urogenital atrophy include irritation, and itching; vaginal dryness, pain during sexual intercourse; and recurrent urinary tract infection (UTI). Observational studies have confirmed the high prevalence of urogenital atrophy, reporting its occurrence in 27% 59% of periand postmenopausal women. Vaginal dryness is similarly frequent, occurring in up to one-half of postmenopausal women; its prevalence increases exponentially with amount of time since menopause (Wysocki, 2009). Urinary Tract Infection, commonly known as UTI, affects as many as 50% women at least once during their lifetime. Women are more susceptible to UTI because of two major reasons. One, a woman s urethra is short, allowing quick access of bacteria to the bladder. Second, a woman s urethral opening is near sources of bacteria from the anus and vagina (Chaudhuri et al., 2008). Urinary tract infection is defined as the presence of microbial pathogens in the ISSN: 2319-7706 Special Issue-1 (2015) pp. 230-235 http://www.ijcmas.com