How could I have contracted an E-Coli infection? Im taking Bactrim?

Hi, I was at my OBGyn recently for a checkup and he took a urine sample to check for a bladder or urinary tract infection. A few days later I was told I had an E-Coli infection and was given a 10 day course of Bactrim antibiotics. (Im about 5 days in)

Any idea how one gets an E-Coli infection? My only thought is that I work for a major carrot processing company. Im in the sales office at a desk job but we are based in the main plant in a rural agricultural area. Sometimes I eat at the lunch cart that drives up daily. Could I be breathing it in or touching something that has the bacteria on it? I know we test all our product for E-Coli and in 10 months, I haven't seen 1 result above the accepted margin.
The nurse said that perhaps Im not wiping properly, front to back (tmi, i know sorry) but I know thats not it. I am trying to conceive though and I check my cervical mucus but that has nothing to do with my urinary or digestive tract.

Any ideas? I want to prevent future infection.

What side effects from Bactrim should I watch out for?

Hello there and Sorry for your discomfort...

First, Bladder infections/Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) are very common... Over half of all women will have one at some point in their life...

As a Nurse, I can tell you a few ways you may have gotten this.
1. E-coli is a bacteria that is found in the intestinal tract of humans and mammals.
2. It is not transmitted through breathing.
3. Everything has bacteria on it. Everything!
4. E-coli is transmitted through feces most often.
5. Your Urethra is what you pee out of. It is a very small opening just below your clitoris, and 1/2 an inch above the vaginal opening.
6. Female Urethras are shorter than males, and thus are more prone to become infected.
7. Some things can make you more prone also. Such as hormon fluctuations, being diabetic if you are one, having sexual activity, being pregnant, or a compromised immune system.
Examples of how the bacteria enters the Urethra:
1. Your partner's hands were dirty, and he touched your genitals.
2. After having a BM, the paper transmitted bacteria to your genitals when you wiped.
3. Engaging in anal sex and then returning to vaginal sex. Having sexual intercourse of any kind, increases your risk because it irritates the urethra and bacteria are likely to be pushed into it during the intercourse.
4. Holding your urine for extended amounts of time.
5. Not drinking enough fluid.
6. Your hands were dirty, and you touched your genitals to check mucus. Remember the urethra is only 1/2 an inch away from the vaginal opening.
7. Anything that impedes the flow of urine, such as a kidney stone.
8. Medications that interfere with your immune system such as cortisone.

Now after all that... Not to worry about Bactrim... Its safe for pregnant ladies... typical side effects are rash, nausea, and vomitting... Now to prevent future infections:
1. Finish all medication... if you miss a dose, take it as soon as remembered.
2. Drink lots and lots of water... atleast 2 Liters a day... which is four 16 bottles.
3. Drink Cranberry juice. It's acidid and helps to kill bacteria in the bladder. (unless you are on a medication called Warfarin/Coumadin; the juice interacts with this drug and causes bleeding)
4. Wipe front to back after a BM.
5. Urinate Before AND After sexual activity.
6. Have your partner wash his hands well with warm soapy water before activities.
7. Avoid irritating feminine products such as sprays and deodorants and bubble baths.
8. Empty your bladder as soon as you feel the urge to go. Do not hold it in.

Ok, I hope this is of some help to you... Remember that many responses on yahoo may be from unqualified individuals. So please keep that in mind when you read through your other responses.

Good luck with it,
Nurse Angie, RN

I'm sorry, but none of your other scenarios have any likelihood of causing E Coli in the urinary tract, unless you touch something with the bacteria on it and then touch yourself down there without washing. But if you were touching anything on the lunch cart that had E Coli on it, there would be a whole lot of people sick with it.

As far as Bactrim, you should make sure to drink lots of fluids, since it can be hard on your kidneys.

It could be not wiping properly, it could be that someone ELSE is not wiping properly and then not washing hands & spreading it that way, it could be in the dirt from livestock and then if hands aren't washed, etc. Basically it's everywhere, but washing hands regularly usually keeps it from spreading around - there's more than one strain of it, just like a lot of other bacterias. It's when you ingest it via uncooked/undercooked foods that it causes problems. Bactrim is pretty heavy-duty - may get diahrea or stomach upsets from it.

The most common cause of UTI are bacteria from the bowel that live on the skin near the rectum or in the vagina which can spread and enter the urinary tract through the urethra.

Sexual intercourse is a common cause of urinary tract infections because the female anatomy can make women more prone to urinary tract infections. During sexual intercourse bacteria in the vaginal area is sometimes massaged into the urethra by the motion of the penis.

uncooked meat; dirty fruits or veggies

I hate to tell you this, but I have been dealing with a e-coli bladder infection with my daughter. She also started on bactrim, and her UTI just got worse. Bactrim was prescribed by her primary physician, and we were refered to a urologist. Her urologist did a culture and the result came back with list of antibiotics and doses that would be effective with e-coli, bactrim was listed as ineffective. I couldnt find any research that says that all strains are resistant to bactrim. You may want to ask your doctor if you can see the lab results next time you are in the office. From personal experience I would recommend a visit to a specialist like a urologist.

Most commonly ecoli is found in the stool, that is why the nurse said you could be not wiping correctly. I was also told to have my daughter avoid baths, only take showers. I would suggest getting some wet wipes to use when cleaning up when going to the bathroom, and make sure your partner is also cleaning himself properly. If you are cleaning yourself properly, perhaps he is not?

We used a course of bactrim and then she got worse and she had no bladder control about halfway through, she was then changed to a 10 day round of macrodantin. After ten days she was not clear yet, so we did a 10 day round of Augmentin. Her last culture 8 days ago was negative.

The answer below me is very thorough, and I have also noticed that many answers have no medical truth on yahoo answers. Again, I dont know if all ecoli infections are resistant to bactrim, but in this case it was. I think that it is at least worth following up on, and asking to see the results from the lab.

Also, I was told by the urologist, a specialist dealing with urine problems, that drinking cranberry juice will not kill the infection, but it will help prevent future infections once you are infection free.

Sometimes fecal matter migrates to the urethra. E-Coli is present in feces, and that's how you got the infection.

When you are using the restroom, always wipe front to back. It will reduce the chances of you contracting another infection.