7 Natural Ways To Prevent A Kidney Infection

It’s no secret that bladder infections, the most common type of urinary tract infection (UTI), can be painful and inconvenient. What you may not know is that the bacteria responsible for a bladder infection can spread to one or both of your kidneys. (19) Left untreated, the resulting kidney infection, known as pyelonephritis, can lead to permanent kidney damage or even a life-threatening infection called sepsis that can travel throughout your entire body. (12) It’s estimated that out of every 10,000 people in the United States, about a dozen women and three to four men are affected by a kidney infection, (7) and kidney infections account for most of the 100,000 hospital visits for UTIs in the United States each year. (9) If you suffer from acute or chronic bladder infections or experience the signs of a kidney infection, it’s important to seek immediate medical treatment. Thankfully, there are also some simple ways to help prevent kidney infections and the need for medical attention.

Females are more likely than males to develop a kidney infection. (5)

Risk factors for kidney infections

Are you at risk of a kidney infection? There are many factors that have been shown to increase your risk, including:

Catheter use
Enlarged prostate
Pregnancy
Problems emptying your bladder completely (e.g., urinary tract obstruction)
Sex: females are at a greater risk
Stress incontinence
Type 1 and type 2 diabetes
Vesicoureteral reflux, a condition that causes urine to flow backward
Weakened immune system (2)(5)

Did you know? One in five women will experience at least one bladder infection in their lifetime. Left untreated, the infection can travel to the kidneys via two tubes called ureters and cause a more serious infection. (16)

Know the signs of a kidney infection and practice prevention to lower your risk.

Signs of kidney infections

Recognizing a kidney infection can help you seek medical attention early and prevent serious complications. The signs and symptoms of a kidney infection include:

Bad odor or cloudy urine
Burning sensation while urinating
Chills
Fever
Frequent urination
Nausea or vomiting
Pain in the abdomen, back, groin, or side
Pus or blood in the urine (13)

7 Ways to prevent a kidney infection

If you suspect you’re suffering from a kidney infection, it’s important to seek medical care as soon as possible. You should also check in with your practitioner if you experience recurring bladder infections or a bladder infection that isn’t getting better with treatment. Both of these scenarios can increase your odds of developing a kidney infection. (14)(15) There are a number of simple ways to prevent kidney infections. As a bonus, the following tips can also improve your kidney health naturally.

1. Drink plenty of water

Drinking an adequate amount of water helps to produce more urine, which aids in flushing out any infection-causing bacteria that may be present in the urinary tract. Making sure you’re well-hydrated can also reduce your risk of developing kidney stones. (10)

Cranberries contain powerful anti-adhesion compounds that may help to prevent bacteria from sticking to cells and tissues in the urinary tract.

2. Add some cranberry

Cranberries are a well-known home remedy for UTIs thanks to their ability to prevent bacteria from sticking to cells in the urinary tract. Studies show that unsweetened cranberry juice or cranberry capsules can help prevent UTIs. One randomized, double-blind study of 160 hospital patients found that cranberry juice capsules lowered the risk of UTIs by 50%. Among those taking the capsules—which equaled two eight-ounce servings of cranberry juice—only 19% of patients developed a UTI compared to 38% in the placebo group. (11)(18)

Did you know? Research suggests that drinking the cranberry juice cocktail typically found in your supermarket, which contains only about 27% juice along with sugar and water, isn’t very effective for preventing UTIs. (4) For a more effective option, look for a pure, unsweetened juice rich in flavonoids or opt for cranberry capsules.

3. Don’t use feminine hygiene sprays or douches

Scented products of any sort can irritate vaginal and urethral tissues, including feminine hygiene sprays, body powders, tampons, and sanitary pads. Douches are especially problematic because they strip away beneficial bacteria within the vagina, creating an ideal environment for a bacterial infection. (6) The downside of using these products was shown in a recent study that appeared in the journal BMC Women’s Health. Douches and other types of intimate cleansers were linked with a 3.5 times greater risk of bacterial infection and a 2.5 times higher risk of developing a UTI. The use of intimate wipes was also correlated with a two-fold higher risk of developing a UTI. (6)

4. Urinate when you have to

Holding your urine allows bacteria circulating in the bladder to grow and cause an infection. Urinating as needed helps flush the bacteria out of your bladder and urethra as often as possible. Go to the bathroom as soon as you feel the need and be sure to empty your bladder completely. (1)

5. Urinate immediately after sex

Urinating right after intercourse may help flush bacteria and other microbes out of the urinary tract. After urinating, gently clean the genitals using plain water. (3)

6. Always wipe from front to back

After urinating, reach behind your buttocks and wipe from the front of the vagina to the back. When you are finished, take a separate piece of toilet paper to clean the anus, starting at the perineum (the space between the vagina and anus) and wiping back between your buttocks. Doing so prevents introducing bacteria from the anus to the vagina. (17)

7. Wear cotton underwear and avoid tight clothing

Synthetic fabrics can trap moisture and create the perfect breeding ground for infection. If you are a woman who is prone to UTIs, wear cotton underwear and loose-fitting bottoms to allow air to circulate. (8)

The bottom line

Kidney infection can be a serious, potentially deadly complication arising from an all too common bladder infection. Employing a healthy dose of prevention, like the strategies above, may help you avert both bladder and kidney infections before they take hold.

References

Al-Badr, A. & Al-Shaikh, G. (2013). Recurrent urinary tract infections management in women: A review. Sultan Qaboos Univ Med J, 13(3), 359-67.
American Kidney Fund. (2021). Kidney infection – Symptoms, treatment and prevention. https://www.kidneyfund.org/kidney-disease/kidney-problems/kidney-infection.html#who_gets_kidney_infections
Badran, Y. A., El-Kashef, T. A., Abdelaziz, A. S., & Ali, M. M. (2015). Impact of genital hygiene and sexual activity on urinary tract infection during pregnancy. Urology Annals, 7(4), 478–481.
Barbosa-Cesnik, C., Brown, M.B., Buxton, M., Zhang, L., DeBusscher, J., & Foxman, B. (2011) Cranberry juice fails to prevent recurrent urinary tract infection: Results from a randomized placebo-controlled trial. Clin Infect Dis, 52(1), 23-30.
Bethel, J. (2013). Acute pyelonephritis: Risk factors, diagnosis and treatment. Nursing Standard, 27, 51-6.
Crann, S.E., Cunningham, S., Albert, A., Money, D.M., & O’Doherty, K.C. (2018). Vaginal health and hygiene practices and product use in Canada: A national cross-sectional survey. BCM Women’s Health, 18, 52.
Czaja, C.A., Scholes, D., Hooton, T.M., & Stamm, W.E. (2007). Population-based epidemiologic analysis of acute pyelonephritis. Clin Infect Dis, 45(3), 273-80.
Dimetry, S.R., El-Tokhy, H.M., Abdo, N.M., Ebrahim, M.A., & Eissa, M. (2007). Urinary tract infection and adverse outcome of pregnancy. J Egypt Public Health Assoc, 82(3-4), 203-18.
European Association of Urology. (2015). Guidelines on urological infections. https://uroweb.org/wp-content/uploads/19-Urological-infections_LR2.pdf
Feehally, J. & Khosravi, M. (2015). Effects of acute and chronic hypohydration on kidney health and function. Nutr Rev, 73(Suppl2), 110-9.
Foxman, B., Cronenwett, A. E., Spino, C., Berger, M. B., & Morgan, D. M. (2015). Cranberry juice capsules and urinary tract infection after surgery: results of a randomized trial. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 213(2), 194.e1–194.e1948.
Hsiao, C. Y., Yang, H. Y., Chang, C. H., Lin, H. L., Wu, C. Y., Hsiao, M. C., Hung, P., H., Liu, S. H., Weng, C. H., Lee, C. C., Yen, T. H., Chen, Y. C., & Wu, T. C. (2015). Risk Factors for Development of Septic Shock in Patients with Urinary Tract Infection. BioMed research international, 2015, 717094. https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/717094
Keenan, D.B., O’Rourke, D.M., & Courney, A.E. (2017). Pyelonephritis can lead to life-threatening complications. Practitioner, 261(1801), 17-20.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. (2017). Symptoms & causes of kidney infection (pyelonephritis). https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/urologic-diseases/kidney-infection-pyelonephritis/symptoms-causes
National Kidney Foundation. (2014). Infectious disease and your kidneys. https://www.kidney.org/news/kidneyCare/fall10/InfectiousDisease
National Kidney Foundation. (n.d.). Top 10 things to know about urinary tract infections. https://www.kidney.org/transplantation/transaction/TC/winter11/TCwinter11_UTI
Persad, S., Watermeyer, S., Griffiths, A., Cherian, B., & Evans, J. (2006). Association between urinary tract infection and postmicturition wiping habit. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand, 85(11), 1395-6.
Raz, R., Chazan, B., & Dan, M. (2004). Cranberry juice and urinary tract infection. Clin Infect Dis, 38, 1413-9.
Shields, J. & Maxwell, A.P. (2010). Acute pyelonephritis can have serious complications. Practitioner, 254(1728): 19,21,23-4,2.