Kidney stone disease consists of the formation of kidney stones, which are deposits of minerals and salts that form inside the kidneys. Kidney stones can be made up of up to 6 different types of components, although infectious stones occur in 9% of cases [1].
What are they?
Infectious kidney stones form when a urinary tract infection occurs. This urinary infection causes bacteria to grow and spread. It is worth noting that this type of kidney stone is closely related to urinary pH. For this reason, patients with this type of kidney stone should focus on reducing urinary pH (below 7.2). In addition, water intake should be increased and diet controlled [1], [2].
How to avoid or prevent them? [1]–[3]
1. Change your diet
As we have mentioned on other occasions (uric acid kidney stones, calcium oxalate kidney stones, calcium phosphate stones), diet should be controlled and foods that promote the formation of infectious stones should be limited. To prevent their formation you should:
- Limit sodium intake
- Supplement with products containing specific ingredients to lower urine pH and inhibit the formation and growth of crystals.
2. Drink enough fluids
As we have mentioned on other occasions (uric acid kidney stones, calcium oxalate kidney stones, calcium phosphate stones), don't forget that the most important thing to prevent stones is to drink 2 to 3 liters of fluid daily (preferably water). You'll know it's enough when your urine color is almost clear.
3. Increase your physical activity
As we have mentioned on other occasions (uric acid kidney stones, calcium oxalate kidney stones, calcium phosphate stones), increased physical activity has been shown to be associated with a decreased risk of stone formation [4].
4. Control your urinary pH and use aids to inhibit crystallization
The process of infectious kidney stone formation is closely associated with a specific urinary pH range (above 7.2). For this reason, the recommendation is to maintain a preventive range below 7.2, as this reduces the probability of bacterial growth [2].
Also, remember that there are supplements to acidify your urinary pH and obtain inhibitors of kidney stone crystallization. In other words, to prevent the appearance of new kidney stones.
References:
[1] S. Tekgül et al., “EAU Guidelines on Urolithiasis,” Eur. Assoc. Urol., vol. 69, no. 3, pp. 475–482, 2016.
[2] F. Grases, A. Costa-Bauzá, I. Gomila, M. Ramis, A. García-Raja, and R. M. Prieto, “Urinary pH and renal lithiasis,” Urol. Res., vol. 40, no. 1, pp. 41–46, 2012.
[3] P. M. Ferraro and M. Bargagli, “Dietetic and lifestyle recommendations for stone formers.,” Arch. Esp. Urol., vol. 74, no. 1, pp. 112–122, Jan. 2021.
[4] P. M. Ferraro, G. C. Curhan, M. D. Sorensen, G. Gambaro, and E. N. Taylor, “Physical Activity, Energy Intake and the Risk of Incident Kidney Stones,” J. Urol., vol. 193, no. 3, pp. 864–868, 2015.
