Urinary Tract Infections in Teens and Adults

Bacteria that enter the Reference urethra Opens New Window and travel up the Reference urinary tract Opens New Window Reference Opens New Window are the usual cause of urinary tract infections (UTIs). Bacteria that normally live in the Reference large intestine Opens New Window Reference Opens New Window and are present in feces (stool) are the most common source of infection. Sexual intercourse may move bacteria into the urinary tract, especially in women. Reference Catheters Opens New Window, which are small, flexible tubes inserted into the bladder to allow urine to drain, are a common source of bacterial infection in people who are in hospitals or who live in long-term care facilities.

Sometimes bacteria traveling through the blood or Reference lymph system Opens New Window cause kidney or bladder infections.

Reference Kidney stones Opens New Window, an Reference enlarged prostate Opens New Window in men, and structural problems in the urinary tract can contribute to UTIs by limiting the body's ability to eliminate urine completely.

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