Urine Infection (cont.)
Who is at risk?
Some people are more prone to getting a UTI than others. Any abnormality
of the urinary tract that obstructs the flow of urine (a kidney stone, for
example) sets the stage for an infection. An enlarged prostate gland also
can slow the flow of urine, thus raising the risk of infection.
A common source of infection is catheters, or tubes, placed in the urethra
and bladder. A person who cannot void or who is unconscious or critically ill
often needs a catheter that stays in place for a long time. Some people,
especially the elderly or those with nervous system disorders who lose bladder
control, may need a catheter for life. Bacteria on the catheter can infect the
bladder, so hospital staff take special care to keep the catheter clean and
remove it as soon as possible.
People with diabetes have a higher risk of a UTI because of changes in the
immune system. Any other disorder that suppresses the immune system raises the
risk of a urinary infection.
UTIs may occur in infants, both boys and girls, who are born with
abnormalities of the urinary tract, which sometimes need to be corrected with
surgery. UTIs are more rare in boys and young men. In adult women, though, the
rate of UTIs gradually increases with age. Scientists are not sure why women
have more urinary infections than men. One factor may be that a woman's urethra
is short, allowing bacteria quick access to the bladder. Also, a woman's
urethral opening is near sources of bacteria from the anus and vagina. For many
women, sexual intercourse seems to trigger an infection, although the reasons
for this linkage are unclear.
According to several studies, women who use a diaphragm are more likely to
develop a UTI than women who use other forms of birth control. Recently,
researchers found that women whose partners use a condom with spermicidal foam
also tend to have growth of E. coli bacteria in the vagina.
Next: What about recurrent urinary tract infections? »
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