What is a urinary tract infection (UTI)?

A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection of the urinary

system. This type of infection can involve your urethra (a
condition called urethritis), kidneys (a condition
called pyelonephritis) or bladder, (a condition called cystitis).

Your urine typically doesn’t contain bacteria (germs). Urine is a

byproduct of our filtration system—the kidneys. When waste
products and excess water is removed from your blood by the
kidneys, urine is created. Normally, urine moves through your
urinary system without any contamination. However, bacteria
can get into the urinary system from outside of the body, causing
problems like infection and inflammation. This is a urinary tract
infection (UTI).
What is the urinary tract?

The urinary tract makes and stores urine, one of the body's liquid
waste products. The urinary tract includes the following parts:

 Kidneys: These small organs are located on back of your

body, just above the hips. They are the filters of your body
— removing waste and water from your blood. This waste
becomes urine.
 Ureters: The ureters are thin tubes that carry urine from the
kidneys to your bladder.
 Bladder: A sac-like container, the bladder stores your urine
before it leaves the body.
 Urethra: This tube carries the urine from your bladder to
the outside of the body.
How common are urinary tract infections (UTIs)?

Urinary tract infections are very common, occurring in 1 out of 5

women sometime in their lifetime. Though UTIs are common in
women, they can also happen to men, older adults and children.
One to 2% of children develop urinary tract infections. Each year,
8 million to 10 million visits to doctors are for urinary tract
infections.
Who gets urinary tract infections (UTIs)?

Anyone can get a urinary tract infection, but they are more
common in women. This is because the urethra (tube the carries
urine out of the body) in females is shorter and closer to the
anus, where E. coli bacteria are common. Older adults also are
at higher risk for developing cystitis. This increased risk may be
due to incomplete emptying of the bladder. There are several
medical conditions that can be related to this, including
an enlarged prostate or a bladder prolapse (a condition where
the bladder falls or slips out of its usual position).

If you get frequent urinary tract infections, your healthcare

provider may do tests to check for other health problems — such
as diabetes or an abnormal urinary system—that may be
contributing to your infections. People with frequent UTIs are
occasionally given low-dose antibiotics for a period of time to
prevent the infection from coming back. This cautious approach
to treating frequent UTIs is because your body can develop a
resistance to the antibiotic and you can get other types of
infections, such as C. diff colitis. This practice is used very
infrequently.
What’s the difference between a urinary tract infection (UTI) and
bladder infection (cystitis)?

A urinary tract infection is a more general type of infection. There

are many parts of your urinary tract. A UTI is a term for an
infection that takes place throughout the urinary tract. A bladder
infection, also called cystitis, is a specific infection. In this
infection, bacteria makes its way into the bladder and causes
inflammation.

Not all urinary tract infections become bladder infections.

Preventing the spread of the infection is one of the most
important reasons to treat a UTI quickly when you have
symptoms. The infection can spread not only to the bladder, but
also into your kidneys, which is a more complicated type of
infection than a UTI.