Anyone have bladder infections after solid organ transplant?

Posted by footballmum @footballmum, Apr 3, 2023

I'm 2 1/2 years post liver transplant and I continually experience bladder infections. Any one else experiencing this?

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@footballmum, A bladder infection is a urinary tract infection (UTI). A UTI is an infection in any part of the urinary system. The urinary system includes the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra:

- Urinary tract infection (UTI)
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/urinary-tract-infection/symptoms-causes/

As a liver and kidney transplant recipient, I have experienced/endured my share of Urinary Tract Infections (UTI)s. I am monitored by both the liver transplant department and the kidney transplant department who work in cooperation with each other.
I took my re-occurring UTI's to the kidney department, and they requested that my PCP have a urine culture in addition to the dipstick test. It took several days for a culture result which identified the bacterial cause. Then a different antibiotic could be matched. On several occasions I did need a different antibiotic. Another detail that my transplant team included was that I took the antibiotic for 10 days and then do another urine sample. This might be something to mention to your PCP and your liver transplant team.

Here is a link to a discussion where transplant recipients describe their experiences with UTI's:
UTIs after kidney transplant
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/utis-after-kidney-transplant/
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Have you talked with your transplant nurse about your UTI's ? Does your doctor order a culture or does he retest after you finish the antibiotic?

REPLY

Thank you. I usually end up in the hospital with sepsis as I don't present early on in the infection. This time I have some inclination that something is up. Today was my regular monthly draw and my 1/4 ly urine sample test. No results available as of yet. I'm not sure what our patient care will be as I've always been admitted to hospital. just curious as to how other recipients have prevented this? Thank you for your time

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@footballmum

Thank you. I usually end up in the hospital with sepsis as I don't present early on in the infection. This time I have some inclination that something is up. Today was my regular monthly draw and my 1/4 ly urine sample test. No results available as of yet. I'm not sure what our patient care will be as I've always been admitted to hospital. just curious as to how other recipients have prevented this? Thank you for your time

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I live almost 800 miles away from my Mayo transplant team, so I rely on my PCP. I am able to go to his office to give a urine sample when I suspect a UTI. If this happens cuts after his office hours, I go to the urgent care clinic that is in the same building to give a sample and hope for an antibiotic until I get a culture through PCP’s office.
Sepsis is the last thing I want ever again. I have been to ER for UTI, but over time, I have learned to identify my symptoms pretty well.

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