Question Title: Lumbar shunt any connection to chronic UTIs

I am a sixteen year old female who suffers from chronic urinary tract infections that occur about every six weeks. In November of 1998, I had a lumbar-peritoneal shunt placed due to a rather rare neurological condition that is called Pseudotumor Cerebri, or Idiopathic Intercranial Hypertension. My question is could the frequent UTIs be in anyway connected to the shunt, and if they are, is there anyway that I can control them. Thank you in advance, as I know that my question isn't exactly of the normal variety.
Also-I have had a cistogram(sp?) and an ultrasound done on my kidneys, both of which the results are not in on yet.

Dear Bethany,
If you continue to have UTI’s, the major concern would be the UTI infecting the shunt rather than the shunt infecting the urine. I don’t think there is anyway that the shunt is infecting your bladder without serious infections of the brain and spinal cord. You should see a urologist and have a routine work-up for multiple recurrent infections of the urinary tract. Start with a urine analysis and make sure the urine is cultured. Bring your old culture results to the urologist at the first visit. It would be important to know if these infections are real, and if the same organism is the cause. If there is a documented infection on culture, you may need to have an IVP and cystoscopy. Since you are still young, a study to rule out reflux should also be done, this would be a VCUG. If however, you didn’t start having infections until the shunt was placed, the VCUG test may not be necessary. Lastly, you may need to determine the function of the bladder and identify if there is residual urine after you void. Stagnant urine often leads to infections.
I think you should see a urologist have a full history and physical to get a good opinion. If your work-up is completely negative, you man need prophylactic antibiotics.
This information is provided for general medical educational purposes only. Please consult your physician for diagnostic and treatment options pertaining to your specific medical condition. More individualized care is available at the Henry Ford Hospital and its satellites (1 800 653-6568).

Sincerely,
HFHS M.D.-AK
*keyword:UTI

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