Which bacteria produce nitrites in urine

Objectives: The bacteriostatic gas nitric oxide NO is formed when nitrite is acidified. Infected urine may contain considerable amounts of nitrite as a result of bacterial nitrate reductase activity, and detection of nitrite in urine is routinely used in the diagnosis of bacterial cystitis. We sought to determine whether NO was generated from acidified nitrite-containing urine.

If there are nitrites in your urine, it may mean that you have a UTI. However, even if no nitrites are found, you still may have an infection, because bacteria don't always change nitrates into nitrites. If you have symptoms of a UTI, your health care provider will also look at other results of your urinalysis, especially the white blood cell count. A high white blood cell count in urine is another possible sign of an infection.

To learn what your results mean, talk to your health care provider. Learn more about laboratory tests, reference ranges, and understanding results.

If a urinalysis is part of your regular checkup, your urine will be tested for a variety of substances along with nitrites. These include red and white blood cells, proteins, acid and sugar levels, cell fragments, and crystals in your urine. The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice.

Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health. Nitrites in Urine. How do you test for nitrites in urine? What is it used for? Why do I need a nitrites in urine test? Symptoms of a UTI may include: Frequent urge to urinate, but little urine comes out Painful urination Dark, cloudy, or reddish colored urine Bad smelling urine Weakness and fatigue , particularly in older women and men Fever.

Pain medications may provide relief for patients with dysuria. Treatment is more difficult in elderly patients, who experience a higher rate of complications such as sepsis and kidney infections. Within a few weeks of his arrival, he developed a fever and began to experience pain associated with urination.

He also began having episodes of confusion and delirium. The doctor assigned to examine Robert read his file and noticed that Robert was treated for prostatitis several years earlier.

All of this evidence suggests that Robert likely has a urinary tract infection. The fever and dysuria are common signs of a UTI in patients of all ages, and UTIs in elderly patients are often accompanied by a notable decline in mental function. Physical challenges often discourage elderly individuals from urinating as frequently as they would otherwise. In addition, neurological conditions that disproportionately affect the elderly e. The doctor also took a urine sample and ordered a laboratory culture to confirm the identity of the causative agent.

Pyelonephritis, an inflammation of the kidney, can be caused by bacteria that have spread from other parts of the urinary tract such as the bladder. In addition, pyelonephritis can develop from bacteria that travel through the bloodstream to the kidney.

When the infection spreads from the lower urinary tract, the causative agents are typically fecal bacteria such as E. Common signs and symptoms include back pain due to the location of the kidneys , fever, and nausea or vomiting.

Scarring of the kidney can occur and persist after the infection has cleared, which may lead to dysfunction. Diagnosis of pyelonephritis is made using microscopic examination of urine, culture of urine, testing for leukocyte esterase and nitrite levels, and examination of the urine for blood or protein.

It is also important to use blood cultures to evaluate the spread of the pathogen into the bloodstream. Imaging of the kidneys may be performed in high-risk patients with diabetes or immunosuppression, the elderly, patients with previous renal damage, or to rule out an obstruction in the kidney.

Pyelonephritis can be treated with either oral or intravenous antibiotics, including penicillins , cephalosporins , vancomycin , fluoroquinolones , carbapenems , and aminoglycosides.

Glomerulonephritis occurs when the glomeruli of the nephrons are damaged from inflammation. Whereas pyelonephritis is usually acute, glomerulonephritis may be acute or chronic. The most well-characterized mechanism of glomerulonephritis is the post-streptococcal sequelae associated with Streptococcus pyogenes throat and skin infections. Although S. Glomerulonephritis can also occur in patients with bacterial endocarditis infection and inflammation of heart tissue ; however, it is currently unknown whether glomerulonephritis associated with endocarditis is also immune-mediated.

Leptospira are generally harmless spirochetes that are commonly found in the soil. However, some pathogenic species can cause an infection called leptospirosis in the kidneys and other organs Figure 2.

Leptospirosis can produce fever, headache, chills, vomiting, diarrhea, and rash with severe muscular pain. If the disease continues to progress, infection of the kidney, meninges, or liver may occur and may lead to organ failure or meningitis. Pulmonary hemorrhagic syndrome can also develop in the lungs, and jaundice may occur. Leptospira spp. Humans generally become infected by coming in contact with contaminated soil or water, often while swimming or during flooding; infection can also occur through contact with body fluids containing the bacteria.

The bacteria may enter the body through mucous membranes, skin injuries, or by ingestion. The most likely cause of nitrites in urine is a UTIs.

Most UTIs, especially those in the bladder and urethra, are easy to treat and will clear up within a week of taking antibiotics. If left untreated, a UTI in the lower tract can spread to the kidneys and cause more severe complications.

In this article, we take a closer look at how safe and effective baking soda is for treating urinary tract infections, otherwise known as UTIs. Learn about nine ways to make yourself pee when you are unable to go. We also look at when someone might need to induce urination, and when to seek…. A kidney infection, or renal infection, happens when bacteria infecting the bladder or urethra spread to at least one of the kidneys.

In most cases…. Learn all about urinary tract infections in men, which are less frequent but can be more serious than UTIs in women. We look at symptoms and…. What does having nitrites in urine mean? Medically reviewed by Carissa Stephens, R. What are nitrites? What causes nitrites in urine?