What is a UTI (urinary tract infection)?

An infection of the urinary tract (UTI) can be described as an infection of your urinary system. This infection can affect your bladder (a condition known as cystitis), kidneys (a condition known pyelonephritis), or urethra.

Your urine is not likely to contain germs or bacteria. Our filtration system, the kidneys, creates urine. Urine is formed when excess water and waste products are removed from the bloodstream by your kidneys. Normally, urine flows through your urinary tract without contamination. But bacteria can enter the urinary tract from the outside, causing inflammation and infection. This is called a UTI (urinary tract infection).


What is the urinary tract?

The urinary tract is responsible for storing and making urine, which is one of the body’s liquid waste products. These are the parts of the urinary tract:

The kidneys: These tiny organs are found on the back of your body just above your hips. They act as filters for your body, removing water and waste from your blood. This waste is converted into urine.

Ureters: These are thin tubes that transport urine from your bladder to the kidneys.

The bladder: This is a sac-shaped container that stores urine before it leaves your body.

Urethra is the tube that carries your urine from the bladder to the outside.


What are the most common urinary tract infections (UTIs).

UTIs are very common and affect 1 in 5 women. UTIs are more common in women than they are in children. UTIs are a common problem in children, with as high as 2% of them resulting from urinary tract infections. UTIs are the leading cause of hospitalizations in children, with 8 to 10 million visits each year.


Who is at risk for developing urinary tract infections (UTIs).

A urinary tract infection can happen to anyone, but it is more common in women. The reason is that the urethra, the tube that carries urine out of your body, is shorter in females than it is in males. This is where E.coli bacteria is most common. Cystitis is more common in older adults. The incomplete emptying of bladder may increase the risk. This could be due to a variety of medical conditions, such as an enlarged prostate and a bladder prolapse (a condition in which the bladder slips or falls out its normal position).

Your healthcare provider may perform tests to determine if you have frequent urinary tract infections. To prevent the infection from returning, people with frequent UTIs may be given low-dose antibiotics for a time. You should be cautious when treating frequent UTIs. Your body may develop resistance to antibiotics and you could get other types of infection, such as C. diff colitis. This is a very rare practice.

Walk-In clinic for UTI treatment and kidney infection treatment


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