Diabetes, SGLT-2 Inhibitors, and Urinary Tract Infection: a Review

Diabetes, SGLT-2 Inhibitors, and Urinary Tract Infection: a Review

19 February 2024 / Published online: 1 March 2024 | Reza Pishdad, Paul G. Auwaerter, Rita R. Kalyani
This review focuses on the epidemiology, pathogenesis, risk factors, management, and complications of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in individuals with diabetes, particularly Type 2 Diabetes (T2DM). It also examines the association between SGLT-2 inhibitors, a class of anti-hyperglycemic agents, and genitourinary infections (GUIs) and UTIs. **Recent Findings:** - T2DM patients are more prone to UTIs and recurrent UTIs compared to those without T2DM. - T2DM is associated with an increased risk of any genitourinary infections (GUIs), UTIs, and genital infections (GIs) across all age categories. - SGLT-2 inhibitors are linked to an increased risk of genitourinary infections. **Management and Prevention:** - The most recognized methods for preventing critical long-term complications, including genitourinary manifestations of diabetes, include diabetes management and lifestyle modifications with a patient-centric approach. **Epidemiology and Etiology:** - T2DM is associated with an increased risk of UTIs, GIs, and GUIs. - The incidence of UTIs is higher in people with diabetes, with varying relative risks (RRs) ranging from 1.5 to 10. - UTIs in women with diabetes are more frequent than in the general population, with a RR of 1.25 to 1.29 for UTIs and 1.26 to 1.31 for GIs. - The bacteriology of UTIs is similar in nondiabetic and diabetic women, primarily caused by *E. coli* and other organisms. - People with diabetes are at an increased risk of infection with *Klebsiella* spp., which is more prevalent in nosocomial UTIs compared to community-acquired UTIs. **Pathogenesis:** - DM reduces responses of neutrophil function, T cells, and humoral immunity, increasing susceptibility to infections. - Virulent organisms like *Klebsiella* species and β-lactamase-producing *E. coli* are more likely to colonize in UTIs in people with diabetes. - Glucosuria, immunodeficiency, modified urothelium, and chronic neurologic bladder dysfunction contribute to increased vulnerability to UTIs. - SGLT-2 inhibitors, by inhibiting the sodium-glucose co-transporter 2, may increase the risk of UTIs through glycosuria. **Conclusion:** The available data on the association between SGLT-2 inhibitors and genitourinary infections is more comprehensive than that for UTIs. Further research is needed to better understand the mechanisms underlying this association.This review focuses on the epidemiology, pathogenesis, risk factors, management, and complications of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in individuals with diabetes, particularly Type 2 Diabetes (T2DM). It also examines the association between SGLT-2 inhibitors, a class of anti-hyperglycemic agents, and genitourinary infections (GUIs) and UTIs. **Recent Findings:** - T2DM patients are more prone to UTIs and recurrent UTIs compared to those without T2DM. - T2DM is associated with an increased risk of any genitourinary infections (GUIs), UTIs, and genital infections (GIs) across all age categories. - SGLT-2 inhibitors are linked to an increased risk of genitourinary infections. **Management and Prevention:** - The most recognized methods for preventing critical long-term complications, including genitourinary manifestations of diabetes, include diabetes management and lifestyle modifications with a patient-centric approach. **Epidemiology and Etiology:** - T2DM is associated with an increased risk of UTIs, GIs, and GUIs. - The incidence of UTIs is higher in people with diabetes, with varying relative risks (RRs) ranging from 1.5 to 10. - UTIs in women with diabetes are more frequent than in the general population, with a RR of 1.25 to 1.29 for UTIs and 1.26 to 1.31 for GIs. - The bacteriology of UTIs is similar in nondiabetic and diabetic women, primarily caused by *E. coli* and other organisms. - People with diabetes are at an increased risk of infection with *Klebsiella* spp., which is more prevalent in nosocomial UTIs compared to community-acquired UTIs. **Pathogenesis:** - DM reduces responses of neutrophil function, T cells, and humoral immunity, increasing susceptibility to infections. - Virulent organisms like *Klebsiella* species and β-lactamase-producing *E. coli* are more likely to colonize in UTIs in people with diabetes. - Glucosuria, immunodeficiency, modified urothelium, and chronic neurologic bladder dysfunction contribute to increased vulnerability to UTIs. - SGLT-2 inhibitors, by inhibiting the sodium-glucose co-transporter 2, may increase the risk of UTIs through glycosuria. **Conclusion:** The available data on the association between SGLT-2 inhibitors and genitourinary infections is more comprehensive than that for UTIs. Further research is needed to better understand the mechanisms underlying this association.
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