Soapy baths and urinary tract infections

My grandmother was getting urinary tract infections one right after the other and we kept trying to figure out what was the culprit. We were cutting out her coffee and soft drink consumption and her sugars/sweets which was making her pretty darn grumpy. She complained that she had been consuming those favorite drinks and sweets all her 94 year long life and that was not causing it. It seems that when we changed her daily routine of showering to bathing because of safety reasons to keep her from slipping in the shower, we were the ones giving her urinary tract infections. It seems her sitting in the soapy water was causing her to get these infections and that is something that is pretty common. Especially in children who seem to do more bathing and love bubble baths.

So with advice from the doctor, this is helpful hints that he passed along. Do not put bubble bath, shampoo or other special bubble bath soaps into the bath water and do not let a bar of soap float in the water. When bathing, do not wash the genital area with soap. Water will suffice. Limit bath time to 15 minutes including soaking in the beginning and when you start washing with the soap, get rinsed and get out as soon as you can. He also suggested that she urinate after bathing. A few non bath related items to help cut down on these type infections is to drink plenty of liquids, especially water, to keep the urine light colored and to only buy loose fitting white cotton underpants to wear.