- 🔬Pathophysiology
- Ascending bacterial infection (usually E. coli); cystitis (bladder) vs. pyelonephritis (kidney).
- 🩺Signs & Symptoms
- Cystitis: dysuria, frequency, urgency. Pyelonephritis adds fever, flank/CVA pain, and N/V.
- 🎯Gold Standard Diagnosis
- Urinalysis (pyuria, nitrites, leukocyte esterase) + urine culture (gold standard).
- 💊First-line Treatment
- Uncomplicated cystitis: nitrofurantoin or TMP-SMX; pyelonephritis: fluoroquinolone or ceftriaxone.