What is Chronic UTI?

FAQs

Treatment

Research

ABOUT CHRONIC UTI

Chronic urinary tract infection (chronic UTI) is a largely unrecognised condition that affects many people, with the majority being women.  Most will never receive an accurate diagnosis or appropriate treatment for their condition.  In recent developments, the NHS website in the United Kingdom now acknowledges chronic UTI as a new category of UTI. You can read more here.

Anyone can develop a chronic UTI and researchers say the biggest risk factor is having had a UTI. Between 25–35 percent of people treated for a normal, acute UTI fail that treatment and many go on to develop a complicated, embedded infection that is more difficult to diagnose and treat.

This site contains information about chronic UTI that will help you understand this condition. Once educated, we encourage you to become proactive in your own health by asking questions, starting an open conversation with your doctor and sharing information about chronic UTI.

Remember, the best advocate for your health is YOU!

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QUICK FACTS

What is Chronic UTI?

A chronic UTI develops when normal UTI bacteria evade immune or antibiotic attack and burrow into the bladder wall (urothelium) for safety. Once the bacteria become embedded within the cells of the urothelium, the infection becomes increasingly difficult to diagnose using current testing methods, and is challenging to treat. There is little to no acknowledgement or recognition of chronic UTI in Australia, despite the impact being widespread. Read more about chronic UTI here.  You can also download our UTI factsheet here and share it with your doctor.

Can I still have a UTI if my test is negative?

The answer is, YES! If you have UTI symptoms but your test results come back negative, you have good reason to question these tests. Current gold standard UTI testing is being used for a purpose it was not originally designed for. Inadequate testing could be a major underlying contributor to the development of chronic UTI and other undiagnosed Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS). Read more about UTI testing. You can also download our UTI factsheet here and share it with your doctor.

How is chronic UTI diagnosed and treated?
If you live in Australia and you suspect you have a chronic UTI, it’s highly unlikely you will be accurately diagnosed, let alone receive appropriate treatment.  However, the good news is a growing number of proactive and educated Australians are now being diagnosed and properly treated for chronic UTI. Read more about how they are doing this.
Could my IC/PBS be a chronic UTI?
Many people diagnosed and successfully treated for a chronic UTI were first diagnosed with a urinary syndrome.  Read more about common chronic UTI symptoms that are overlooked due to negative UTI tests.
How can I connect with others with chronic UTI?
You’re not alone!  There’s a whole online community out there researching and discussing chronic UTI,and supporting each other around the clock.

Check our FAQ section for a current list of online chronic UTI groups, websites and other resources we know about.

You can also stay connected with our online community by subscribing to our quarterly newsletter.

Hearing Patient Voices’ Chronic UTI survey Report

The Hearing Patient Voices survey was conducted by Chronic UTI Australia (Inc.). The aim of the survey was to better understand the impacts of chronic UTI on individuals, as well as potential impacts on the health system and society in general.

Four key themes emerged from the survey data:

  1. Chronic UTI severely impacts quality-of-life.
  2. Poor healthcare experiences are common among chronic UTI patients.
  3. People with chronic UTI feel let down by diagnostic and treatment failures.
  4. Health professionals’ lack of knowledge and expertise in diagnosing and treating chronic UTI results in costs to the health system that could be avoided.

Download the Hearing Patient Voices chronic UTI patient report to learn more about the serious impact chronic UTI has on people’s lives.

Download Report