The phenomenon of urinary tract infection experienced by women with a kidney transplant

BackgroundUrinary tract infection is the most common infection among people with a kidney transplant and increases the risk of graft rejection. Women have a higher risk. A literature search did not identify any description of the phenomenon of urinary tract infection experienced by women with a kidney transplant. ObjectiveTo examine how women with a kidney transplant experienced the phenomenon of a urinary tract infection. DesignA qualitative study with a phenomenological approach. ApproachEight individual semistructured interviews based on van Manen's four lifeworld existentials and analysed using systematic text condensation. ParticipantsWomen with a kidney transplant and recently been admitted to the hospital due to a urinary tract infection. FindingsWe identified four themes: (1) Feeling both typical and atypical symptoms; (2) Becoming aware of the body and trying her best to prevent urinary tract infection; (3) Having a urinary tract infection is a dual experience, both good and bad; (4) Support from relatives. ConclusionThe urinary tract infection symptoms pathway varied between participants but also between individual episodes of incidents among each participant. Participants felt secure when they experienced a common symptom pattern, but a new symptom pattern made them insecure. Together with their relatives, they experienced a urinary tract infection as a disruption of their everyday life and it decreased their experiences of happiness. They experienced to be supported by relatives but also by healthcare professionals, but needed more information on how to prevent, observe and react to a urinary tract infection in the future.

Automated summary

Urinary tract infection is common among women with a kidney transplant and increases the risk of graft rejection. However, there is a lack of research on the experience of urinary tract infection in this population. This qualitative study found that women with a kidney transplant experienced both typical and atypical symptoms of urinary tract infection, tried to prevent it, had a dual experience of the infection, and received support from relatives. The symptoms and impact of urinary tract infection varied among participants, and they expressed a need for more information on prevention and management.