Natural health with Megan Sheppard

My sister is prone to urinary tract infections. She is currently in hospital and is concerned she will develop an infection while being attached to a catheter. What do you think?

Your sister is quite right to be concerned, as many people (males and females) who require long-term use of a catheter find themselves dealing with repeated urinary tract infections. It is likely that both her input and output of liquids will be monitored closely, so she will no doubt already be getting enough water to ensure that her system is flushing through.

E. coli accounts for most urinary tract infections in women, which is largely due to the fact that women have a shorter urethra, making it easier for bacteria to transfer over into the bladder. A preventative approach is quite wise, particularly since your sister is already aware that she is prone to such infections.