Can Mold Cause Urinary Tract Infection

Clinical Diagnosis Of The Dampness And Mold Hypersensitivity Syndrome: Review Of The Literature And Suggested Diagnostic Criteria

• Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland

A great variety of non-specific symptoms may occur in patients living or working in moisture-damaged buildings. In the beginning, these symptoms are usually reversible, mild, and present irritation of mucosa and increased morbidity due to respiratory tract infections and asthma-like symptoms. Later, the disease may become chronic and a patient is referred to a doctor where the assessment of dampness and mold hypersensitivity syndrome often presents diagnostic challenges. Currently, unanimously accepted laboratory tests are not yet available. Therefore, the diagnosis of DMHS is clinical and is based on the patients history and careful examination. In this publication, I reviewed contemporary knowledge on clinical presentations, laboratory methods, and clinical assessment of DMHS. From the literature, I have not found any proposed diagnostic clinical criteria. Therefore, I propose five clinical criteria to diagnose DMHS: the history of mold exposure in water-damaged buildings, increased morbidity to due infections, sick building syndrome, multiple chemical sensitivity, and enhanced scent sensitivity. If all the five criteria are met, the patient has a very probable DMHS. To resolve the current problems in assigning correct DMHS diagnosis, we also need novel assays to estimate potential risks of developing DMHS.

Can Urinary Tract Infections Be Prevented

These steps may help reduce the chance of getting UTIs:

• Drink plenty of water every day.
• Drink cranberry juice. Large amounts of vitamin C limit the growth of some bacteria by acidifying the urine. Vitamin C supplements have the same effect.
• Urinate when you feel the need. Do not wait.
• Take showers instead of tub baths.
• Clean the genital area before and after sex, and urinate shortly after sex.
• Women should not use feminine hygiene sprays or scented douches.
• Cotton underwear and loose fitting clothes help keep the area around the urethra dry. Tight clothes and nylon underwear trap moisture. This can help bacteria grow.
• Repeated bouts of urinary tract infections can be treated with small doses of regular antibiotics.

Please consult your health care provider with any questions or concerns you may have about UTIs.

How Do Doctors Diagnose Mold Allergy

To diagnose an allergy to mold or fungi, the doctor will take a complete medical history. If they suspect a mold allergy, the doctor often will do skin tests or allergen specific IgE blood tests. Extracts of different types of fungi may be used to scratch or prick the skin. If there is no reaction, then you probably dont have an allergy. The doctor uses the patientâs medical history, the skin testing results and the physical exam to diagnose a mold allergy.

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Candida Cystitis And Pyelonephritis

The urinary bladder may also be infected by Candida spp. Normally, the urinary bladder is sterile, thus, the presence of Candida spp. may lead to Candida cystitis, which is known as a symptomatic lower UTI. Sometimes, Candida cystitis may lead to symptomatic candiduria. Candida cystitis is identified via symptoms of high urination frequency, dysuria and hematuria .

Candida pyelonephritis is a severe nosocomial upper UTI which may lead to candidemia and sepsis. The most predominant primary symptoms pertaining to candida pyelonephritis is reported as fever and candiduria .

Candida Albicans And Virulence Factors

C.albicans as a diploid dimorphic fungus ranks first for causing systemic candidiasis and fungal nosocomial UTIs worldwide. The shape flexibility, as in switching between yeast and filamentous forms, is one of the most well known pathogenic factors in the dimorphic fungus C.albicans. Additionally, there are several attributes such as adhesion, invasion, discharging hydrolytic enzymes, stereotropism and biofilm formation which are absolutely considered as pathogenic mechanisms pertaining to C.albicans .

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So What Exactly Is Pink Mold

Pink mold is a type of mold that can be found both indoors and outdoors. It gets its pink color from the spores it produces, and these spores give it a distinctive smell that some people describe as musty.

Pink mold can grow on many different types of surfaces, including wood, paper, fabric, and food. It is most commonly found in moist environments, such as bathrooms, kitchens, and basements.

Key Points About Urinary Tract Infections

• Urinary tract infections are a common health problem that affects millions of people each year. These infections can affect any part of the urinary tract.
• Most UTIs are caused by E. coli bacteria, which normally live in the colon.
• The most common symptoms of UTIs include changes in urination such as frequency, pain, or burning urine looks dark, cloudy, or red and smells bad back or side pain nausea/vomiting and fever.
• Antibiotics are used to treat UTIs. Other treatments may include pain relievers, and drinking plenty of water to help wash bacteria out of the urinary tract.
• Other things that can be done may help reduce the likelihood of developing UTIs.

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Fungal Infection Of The Bladder And/or Urethra In Dogs

Fungal infections are uncommon in dogs. In fact, because of the widespread existence of fungi in the environment, these organisms are harmless most of the time, or the body is adept at fighting off any ill effects brought on by the fungus. In some cases, thought not all, some types of fungus can cause symptoms of infection in the body. For example, fungi may inhabit and infect the lower urinary tract and may also appear in the urine after being released from the kidneys.

Dogs of any age, breed, or gender may be affected.

Mold Allergies Asthma And Other Respiratory Symptoms

Whether you already experience allergy symptoms or not, touching or inhaling mold spores may cause you to become allergic to mold. If you are sensitized to mold as an allergen, exposure may cause a range of allergy symptoms, including sneezing, stuffy or runny nose, and eye, nose and throat irritation, according to the CDC. However, you do not need to be sensitized to mold for it to cause medical symptoms.

Exposure to mold and damp indoor environments has been linked to a wide range of health effects. According to the Institute of Medicine , both mold and damp indoor environments have been found to cause coughing, wheezing and other respiratory tract symptoms in otherwise healthy individuals. Those with asthma may experience more severe asthma symptoms when exposed to mold or indoor dampness, including tightness, swelling and mucus in the airways. The CDC also notes that workplace exposure to mold in damp buildings has been associated with new-onset asthma.

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In this condition, it is the immune response to the offending agent, such as a mold, that is responsible for the symptoms rather than growth of the mold itself. The most common symptoms of hypersensitivity pneumonitis include cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, loss of appetite and weight loss. When cough and shortness of breath are not prominent, the disease can be very hard to diagnose. Given your history, with the benefit of hindsight, I think that you may very well have had a sensitivity to the mold in your home.

Urinary symptoms and insomnia are not common symptoms of hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and the fact that they havent gotten better when the rest of the symptoms did suggests that the mold wasnt responsible. Other symptoms, including chronic sinus inflammation, immunodeficiencies and neurologic symptoms have been reported, but are not accepted by most authorities as commonly caused by molds.

Dear Dr. Roach At my most recent physical, my general practitioner told me that because I am now 81 years old, he would no longer order mammograms or colonoscopies, which I have been regularly getting. Ive never had any abnormalities in the breasts, but have had some benign polyps on colonoscopies. My father died at 83 of a heart attack and my mother at 95 of kidney cancer. I am not at ease with discontinuing these tests. M.L.W.

Symptoms Of Peripheral Neuropathy

No matter the cause, the symptoms of this condition can include:

• Loss of sensation and/or itching in the hands and/or feet
• Moderate to severe nerve pain in the extremities
• Muscle weakness in the limbs
• Burning sensation in the hands and/or feet
• Sensitivity to touch
• Lightheadedness

People who have this type of neuropathy may also have trouble walking or experience heat intolerance, dizziness, and increased sweating. They may also have changes in their blood pressure and problems going to the bathroom. Here is more about the neurological symptoms of mold exposure.

Besides mold exposure, there are a variety of medically-related reasons why patients may have neuropathic symptoms, including conditions like lyme disease, diabetes, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV, shingles, hepatitis C, Epstein-Barr virus, liver disease, alcoholism, benign tumors and growths, and cancer. Since peripheral neuropathy is often a sign of a serious illness, it is important to see your doctor right away if you think you have it.

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How To Prevent Pink Mold

As stated above, the best way to prevent mold is to keep your home clean and dry. Here are some tips for preventing pink mold:

• Keep your home clean – This means keeping surfaces free of dirt and dust, as well as cleaning up any spills or leaks immediately.
• Repair water damage – If your home has suffered any water damage, make sure to repair it immediately.
• Control humidity levels – You can control the humidity levels in your home by using a dehumidifier, air conditioner, or fans.
• Ventilate your home – Make sure to ventilate your home regularly by opening windows and doors.
• Keep food sealed – Store food in airtight containers or even Ziploc bags to prevent it from absorbing moisture.
• Use mold-resistant materials – If you are remodeling your home, choose mold-resistant materials like tile or vinyl flooring.

If you follow these tips, you should be able to prevent pink mold from growing in your home. However, if you do find mold already present in your home, it is important to act quickly and decisively, in order to keep it from spreading.

What Causes Mold Sickness

The toxins in your system from breathing in mold spores add to the total amount of toxicity in your body. We call this the Total Body Burden. When your burden is high, you start experiencing symptoms many which are seemingly unrelated.

For most people, toxins get flushed out from the body when eliminating waste.

For some, the toxic load is so high that its too much for the body to eliminate them all efficiently. For others, they may have poor detoxification processes or they may even recycle or reabsorb these mycotoxins back, as the body tries to eliminate them. Genetics plays a huge role in this difference from person to person

In short, multiple symptoms happen because, as we say in environmental medicine genetics points the gun, and then the environment pulls the trigger.

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Fungal Infections In The Urinary Tract

In recent years, new research has established that the urinary bladder is not sterile as it was previously believed.

In fact, it is home to communities of microorganisms that, in the right balance, help to keep the bladder healthy.

Changes in the balance of these microorganisms have been noted to be present in all bladder conditions.

Further, it has been shown that standard testing does not pick up all infections reliably. So if you experience symptoms after a negative test result it does not necessarily mean that no infection is present.

Standard testing also does not test for organisms other than bacteria. But are they even a thing?

Here Are Some Of The Common Symptoms I See In My Patients:

• GENERAL: insomnia, fatigue, hair loss, weight gain or loss, sweet cravings, light sensitivity, poor depth perception, memory loss, intolerant of fragrances and chemicals, nose bleeds

• NEUROLOGIC: headaches of all types, including icepick headaches, brain fog, numbness, tingling, weakness, tremor, nerve pain, dizziness

• MUSCULOSKELETAL: joint and muscle pain, muscle cramps, general weakness, tics, muscle twitches

• PSYCHIATRIC: anxiety, depression, OCD, short fuse

• SKIN: rashes and pruritus

• HORMONAL: continuous dehydration , night sweats, poor temperature regulation

What about mold makes it dangerous to our health?

I dont want to minimize the danger mold allergy has on the respiratory system: Allergies and asthma can significantly impact quality of life, and can be deadly.

Mold toxicity, specifically, can have big health consequences, because of the kind of toxins molds make as their biological byproducts. These toxins fall into two main categories: mycotoxins or microbial volatile organic compounds . The fungal MVOCs, produced as mixtures of alcohols, aldehydes, acids, ethers, esters, ketones, terpenes, thiols, and their derivatives, are responsible for the characteristic moldy odors sometimes associated with damp indoor spaces. Mold toxins range from mildly toxic to extremely potent .

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The Natural Course Of The Dmhs

There is a huge variation in the time preceding the onset of symptoms in individuals who lived or worked in environment contaminated with moisture-related microbiota. The time interval can vary from a few months to several years. It is not known which factors may contribute to individual susceptibility to DMHS. It seems that cumulative exposure time during an individuals lifespan when he/she is exposed to dampness microbiota may be a decisive factor. The age of the person when he/she will be exposure to moisture microbiota for the first time may be another critical component. One may speculate that there are several genetic factors, some of which are protective and some are permissive, that might contribute to the development of DMHS.

Dampness and mold hypersensitivity syndrome patients have increased morbidity rate due to infections of respiratory tract, e.g., recurrent sinusitis, bronchitis even pneumonias when the exposure to moldy environment continues. The disease seems to progresses from irritation to recurrent infections, such as tonsillitis, reactivations of herpes simplex virus , recurrent urinary tract, skin infections, etc. Patients may experience also episodes of mild, prolonged fever and fatigue and a minority of them may develop the so-called chronic fatigue syndrome .

Table 1. Questionnaire to the exposed patients.

What To Do If You Suspect A Fungal Infection

Unfortunately, adequate testing is not yet widely available. If youve had a stool test that indicates fungal infections this may indicate other fungal infections in the body. But we cant know for sure.

An open-minded doctor may be up for trying anti-fungal medication if other therapies have not worked.

Several natural compounds have both antibacterial and antifungal activity and may be worth trying however, dont assume that something is safe only because it is natural. Do your research!

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A Solution To Urinary Tract Infections Caused By Catheters

Urinary tract infections are the most common type of healthcare-associated infection reported to CDC, and some bacteria that cause UTIs can be resistant to the antibiotics that treat them. In the United States, urinary catheters cause roughly 75% of UTIs, and biofilms complex communities of microorganisms that irreversibly attach to a surface are often the cause.

Traditionally, clinicians prevent biofilms on catheters by prescribing patients a high concentration of antibiotics . This method can be ineffective and increases the risk of a patient getting an antibiotic-resistant infection. To prevent UTIs and reduce unnecessary antibiotic use, NCEZID staff and Georgia Institute of Technology developed a coating made of bacteriophages , or viruses that selectively kill bacteria to prevent biofilm development on catheters.

The phages effectively fight the development of biofilms, avoid potential dangers of antibiotic overuse, and can target multiple infectious bacteria at once, which might otherwise require a combination of antibiotics. The team from NCEZID and Georgia Tech aim to expand this effort to make the catheter coating available and accessible worldwide.

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How To Prevent Mold Exposure

Denying them a place to grow is an important step in preventing mold. And for that, you need to control the moisture inside your home. You should make sure that your home and the workplace is free of visible mold growth or strong moldy odor. Here are a few tips for that.18

• Use an air conditioner or dehumidifier to keep the humidity level low.
• Make sure that your floor and wall are dry after flooding.
• Fix water problems such as roof leaks and plumbing leaks.
• Provide enough ventilation for your house.
• Use mold-killing products while cleaning bathrooms.
• If absorbent materials like carpet become moldy, they should be removed.
• Cleaning frequently keeps mold to a minimum.
• Do not paint moldy surfaces without cleaning up the mold and drying the surface.19

Cleaning up the mold in your home is the first thing you should do. These are a few ways to do it:

• Remove mold growth from hard surfaces using soap and water.
• You can also use a bleach solution.
• Take less than 1 cup of household laundry bleach in 1 gallon of water to remove the mold. Remember, never mix bleach with ammonia or other household cleaners as it produces toxic fumes.20
• Make sure that the windows and doors are open while you use bleach.
• Also, wear protective gloves and eye mask.

If you are worried about mold exposure from your workplace and the symptoms associated with it, you should consult an occupational health clinic.

References

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