UTI

[momtofourboys]

I was wondering if some one can tell me if your urine can be colonized (sorry If I spelled it wrong) My dad is a a very very complicated person. he has many issues. He has Wegners Vasculitis, DIabetes (Injection type) COPD, in Nov he had a heart attack and had a triple bypass and started dialysis (end stage renal failure) since Nov he hasn't done well he has had pneumonia x's 2, something with his large intestine where the doctors thought it would rupture(dad refused surgery) he was septic from a UTI something about VRE from the UTI. and he has pleural effusions and one is encapsulated. he keeps running a low fever (they say it due to fluid restrictions he dehydrated)
Now to repeart the real issue he keeps coming back with a positive UTI and can't come of VRE precautions. my mom says that his urine is colonized can this be true
michelle

[momtofourboys]

Hi thank you for responding to my question. I forgot to ask. Since he has to have 3 negative urine test before they can take him off VRE precautions and if it is colonized, like my mom thinks it maybe, then is there a way to tell if he really has a UTI or if it is just because it is colonized.
He, I don't believe will make it through another infection to battle not with a WBC of 1.5 and I am not joking, battle rare type of anemia where he has to get blood and platelets once a week through dialysis, I am not sure that his body can take another hit like an infection this is why I would like to know about a UTI, can they tell the difference. I just don't want them to blow it off and say yeah this is what is going on. he is battling a low grade fever 99.9 and mom (well she has a degree in nursing, but I don't trust her) says he is just dehydrated due to fluid restrictions. he hasn't been like this since before he took sick when he first started out on the restrictions. the fever just started up a cuple of days ago
Thank you
Michelle

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi
Thanks for writing to the forum!
Yes, it is possible that his urine is colonized. In general, healthy people including infants and children are at low risk of getting infected with VRE. A casual contact like kissing, hugging, and touching, is usually safe. You would need to wear disposable gloves if you anticipate contact with body fluids such as urine. If excessive contact with body fluids is expected as a spill of urine, wear a gown.
Hope these tips help. Please let me know if there is any thing else and do keep me posted. Take care!