What are the typical causes of a urinary tract infection?

introduction

A urinary tract infection is an infection of the lower urinary tract. Initially only the urethra can be affected, then the infection can spread into the urinary bladder and via the ureters to the kidneys.

The causes are very diverse, but differed between the sexes due to the different anatomical conditions.

causes

The following are the most common triggers of a urinary tract infection:

• Contamination with intestinal bacteria (enterobacteria, enterococci, staphylococci)

• Foreign material, urinary catheters, bladder stones

• Sexual intercourse

• Lack of hygiene

• Anatomical changes

  • Prostate enlargement in men

  • Short urethra especially in women

• Diabetes mellitus (Blood sugar disease)

Typical causes in women

In contrast to men, women are significantly more susceptible to urinary tract infections and bladder infections.

This is mainly due to the fact that the urethra of women is significantly shorter than that of men. In women, the length of the urethra is about three to five centimeters. This is a very short distance that the bacteria must overcome before they can settle in the bladder.

In women, the anatomical proximity between the exit of the urinary tract and the anus also plays a role in the development of urinary tract infections. Carelessness in hygiene can quickly transfer intestinal bacteria to the vaginal area.

As with men, other causes such as urinary catheters that have been in place for a long time play a role.

Diabetes, too Diabetes mellitus is a typical cause of cystitis.

In addition, cystitis can also be caused by sexual intercourse in sexually transmitted diseases.

You may also be interested in the following article: Painful urination in woman.

pregnancy

Pregnancy, especially in the last phase, is accompanied by many changes in the genital tract and thus also in the urinary tract.

Typically, these changes affect the urinary tract somewhat. This can lead to problems with urination so that the urinary bladder cannot be completely emptied, which promotes the development of urinary tract infections.

The pelvic floor muscles also become softer, which can lead to a leak in the urethra. This not only creates the problem of unwanted urine leakage, it also enables bacteria to more easily get into the bladder via the urethra.

Hormonal changes during pregnancy also change the local composition of body fluids such as the vaginal pH value. This is usually slightly acidic so that unwanted bacteria cannot multiply. However, the pH value can be out of balance during pregnancy, which means that urinary tract infections caused by bacteria can occur more quickly.

Also read our main article: Cystitis During Pregnancy.

Typical causes in men

In men, too, urinary tract infections are in most cases caused by intestinal bacteria. However, due to their long urethra (an average of 20 cm), men suffer significantly less often from urinary tract infections that spread to the urinary bladder.

As is the case with women, foreign bodies such as inserted urinary catheters are the main cause of urinary tract infections.

Sexually transmitted diseases can also cause urinary tract infections in men.

Another risk factor in men is an enlarged prostate. Due to the enlargement of the organ, the urine can no longer be completely emptied from the bladder. This favors the migration of germs into the urinary bladder and thus the development of urinary tract infections.

Also read our article: Pain when urinating in men.

Prostatic hyperplasia

The enlarged prostate (Prostatic hyperplasia) plays an important role in the development of bladder infections in men, especially in old age.

The prostate lies below the bladder and surrounds the urethra there. If prostate enlargement occurs with age, which is the case in many men, it can narrow the urethra. In addition, from a certain size the prostate lifts the base of the urinary bladder slightly. Both mechanisms make it difficult to pass urine completely when urinating. This leaves some residual urine in the bladder, which forms a good breeding ground for bacteria that rise up.

In addition, the urine stream is usually significantly weakened due to the tightness. This makes it easier for bacteria to travel up the urethra.

You may also be interested in the following article: Therapy for prostate enlargement.

Urinary tract infection after sexual intercourse

Sexual intercourse is a possible cause of urinary tract infections.

Sexually transmitted diseases can be transmitted, which subsequently lead to a urinary tract infection. These are mostly bacterial.

In addition, bacteria that normally occur on the skin are carried into the genital tract during sexual intercourse. If they get stuck there, a urinary tract infection can also occur. One speaks of the so-called "honeymoon" cystitis. Urination immediately after sexual intercourse, for example, helps as a preventative measure, as this can flush out bacteria that have been introduced.

Condoms can also reduce the rate of urinary tract infections.

Urinary catheter

Catheters, along with other foreign bodies, are a common cause of urinary tract infections in the elderly or in need of care. If the catheters are left in the bladder for a long time, they create a reservoir in which bacteria can collect. Along the plastic tube, the bacteria can penetrate the urinary bladder unhindered and cause a urinary tract infection there.

In the worst case, the urinary tract infection can also result in blood poisoning (sepsis), which can be life-threatening, especially in older, previously ill patients. For this reason, a urinary catheter should be removed immediately as soon as the patient no longer needs it.

You can find more detailed information on the structure of a urinary catheter and its functions on our main page Urinary catheter.

Bladder stones

Bladder stones are urinary stones, i.e. small, hard accumulations of substance that are located in the bladder. Since they are mostly found in the lower part of the bladder due to gravity, they can make urination difficult.

This prevents the bladder from emptying completely, which in turn favors the development of urinary tract infections, as the bacteria also remain in the bladder.

In addition, the stones can damage the urinary bladder wall and thus reduce the defenses against bacteria.

If the bacteria have migrated up the urethra, they can sometimes attach themselves better to the bladder stones, so that they lead to more persistent and persistent urinary tract infections.

You can also read our article on the cause of the formation of bladder stones Kidney Stones - The Most Important Information.

Causes in Infants and Young Children

Urinary tract infections are common in toddlers and babies because they wear diapers, which means that the urethra comes into greater contact with excretions from the intestines. This offers the opportunity for the intestinal bacteria to implant in the urethra and cause a urinary tract infection there.

In addition, small children in particular cannot consciously hold their urine. Prolonged targeted urination could flush the bacteria out of the urethra. In the case of small children and babies, on the other hand, a small amount of urine often passes through the urinary tract, so that it is not so easy to flush out the bacteria.

In the so-called phallic development phase, a further risk factor for urinary tract infections arises for the children. In this development phase (four to five years of age) the children recognize the differences between the different sexes and are therefore fascinated by their own sex. This can lead to increased finger contact with one's own genitals, which in turn can cause pathogens to lodge in the urethra.

Another cause of urinary tract infections in boys is when they have a narrowing of the foreskin (Phimosis) Suffer. The foreskin cannot be pulled back completely, so that hygienic cleaning below the foreskin is difficult. This allows pathogens to settle there and also cause urinary tract infections.

The following article may also be of interest to you: Phimosis - The narrowing of the foreskin.

Diabetes mellitus

Diabetes mellitus is the technical term for diabetes. The body is unable to absorb sufficient amounts of sugar from the blood, which is primarily due to a lack of effectiveness (type II diabetes, adult diabetes) or a reduced amount (type I diabetes) of the body's own insulin.

If the sugar concentration in the blood exceeds a certain value, the sugar is excreted via the kidneys. As a result, the urine becomes sweeter and sugar molecules also settle in the urinary tract. The sugar is in the truest sense of the word "found food" for bacteria that work their way up the urinary tract and trigger a urinary tract infection.

You can find more information about the consequences of diabetes on our main page: The consequences of diabetes.

Which pathogens are possible?

The most common pathogens in urinary tract infections are natural intestinal bacteria. These are excreted in the stool and thus get near the exit of the urethra. From there they can get into the urethra, rise to the urinary bladder and thus cause a urinary tract infection.

80% of urinary tract infections are therefore from the bacterial strain Escherichia coli evoked. Other intestinal bacteria that often cause urinary tract infections are Proteus mirabilis and Klebsiella.

Urinary tract infections are more rarely caused by intestinal bacteria such as enterococci, staphylococci and Ureaplasma urealyticum.

Adenoviruses are also a common pathogen in children.

In addition to intestinal bacteria, bacteria that cause sexually transmitted diseases can also trigger a urinary tract infection. These include the

• Gonococci (Pathogen of the "gonorrhea" or gonorrhea infection),
• Chlamydia and
• Treponema pallidum (Causative agent of syphilis infection).

Also read our article: Bacteria in the urine - how dangerous is it?

Are there also psychological causes for a urinary tract infection?

Mental causes of a urinary tract infection play a role if the emptying of the bladder is impaired by psychological factors. There are mental illnesses that make urination difficult or even prevent it.

Holding the urine for a long time can promote urinary tract infections. In severe cases, affected people can only empty their bladder through a urinary catheter. For this, catheters are usually used that no longer remain in the urinary bladder, so that the risk of infection is minimized. Nevertheless, a foreign body is introduced into the urinary tract, which can potentially promote the spread of pathogens.

Does a small amount of drinking promote a urinary tract infection?

Decreased fluid intake has a reputation for being implicated in many diseases.

Inadequate drinking can also play a role in urinary tract infections. One of the defense mechanisms against bacteria in the urinary tract consists of a strong flow of urine that flushes the bacteria out again.
By drinking a small amount, affected people have to urinate significantly less often. This in turn means that the bacteria have more time to migrate up the urethra and to attach themselves and multiply there. The colonization with the bacteria, in turn, creates a urinary tract infection that can spread to the urinary bladder.

You might also be interested in the following article: Home remedies for cystitis.