Pathophysiology of urinary tract infections

Urinary tract infections are amongst the most common bacterial infections. They can occur in either an uncomplicated host setting, where there is no underlying structural or functional abnormality of the patient ’s genitourinary tract, or complicated, where there is. For the latter, common predisposing factors are the presence of a foreign body, including urinary catheter, or disruption of normal urinary flow by obstruction or retention. Bacteria vary widely in their ability to successfully invade the uri nary tract; the vast majority of such infections being due to a small number of species.
Source: Surgery (Medicine Publishing) - Category: Surgery Authors: Tags: Basic science Source Type: research