Kidney Infection (cont.)
What are the causes of kidney infection?
Urine, similar to other fluids in the body, is normally
sterile without significant bacterial infection. Therefore, the presence of
bacteria in the urine is considered abnormal and may lead to urinary tract
infection. Typically, bacteria gain access to
the urinary system from outside through the urethra (the drainage tube for urine
from the bladder). The bacteria may then ascend in the urinary system and cause
kidney infections. Kidney infection (upper UTI) is typically more severe than
lower UTI because bacteria may infect the blood stream (bacteremia) from the
kidneys.
Bacteria may travel from the rectum or the vagina towards the urethra to gain
entry into the urinary system. Other bacteria may enter from the skin. Women are
more susceptible to urinary tract infections due to the shorter length of urethra.
What are risk factors for kidney and urinary tract infection?
There are many factors that may increase the chances for infection of kidney
and urinary tract.
Sexual intercourse (in women) may increase the risk of
urinary tract infection because of possible introduction of the bacteria around
the urethra into the urinary system (a condition sometimes referred to as "honeymoon cystitis").
Pregnancy may also increase the incidence of UTI and
kidney infection in women, in fact, 2% to 8% of pregnant women may have urinary infections
during their pregnancy. This may occur because of slower transit of urine in the
ureters during pregnancy from the pressure applied by the uterus.
Urinary catheters (Foley catheters) also increase the risk of developing
urinary and kidney infections. These catheters are used in settings where an
individual may not be able to urinate due to paralysis, severe illness, bed
bound state, incontinence of urine
(inability to hold their urine), or bladder dysfunction. Urinary catheters simply provide a physical vehicle for the
bacteria from outside to be directly transported into the bladder and the
urinary system.
Kidney stones and other structural abnormalities of the
urinary system may also cause kidney infection. Impaired draining and
blockage of urine may cause bacteria to ascend to the kidney without being
washed back down with the urine. Any obstruction to the flow of urine can serve as a focus of
infection that can spread to other parts of the urinary tract.
In children, risk factors for kidney infection include female gender,
uncircumcised male, structural abnormalities of the urinary tract, and Caucasian
race (four times higher than African American).
Next: What are the signs and symptoms of kidney infection? »
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