What is a UTI and where does it occur?

Where does an UTI occur?

The urinary tract consists of the kidneys (which filter blood to produce urine), the tubes that connect the kidney to the bladder (ureter), the bladder and the tube that leads from the bladder to outside the body (urethra). UTIs can occur in the bladder, urethra or kidneys.

Depending on where the infection occurs, there are more specific terms:

• Cystitis (infection of the bladder) – Cystitis is the most common UTI and occurs when bacteria travel up the urethra, and cause inflammation of the bladder lining. While cystitis may be painful and inconvenient, the good news is it isn’t contagious (e.g. during sexual intercourse) and it can be simple to treat when addressed early. Treatment should be initiated as soon as possible to stop the infection from spreading further up the urinary tract.

• Urethritis (infection of the urethra) – Urethritis generally occurs when a bacterial infection causes inflammation of the urethra and typically causes irritation and pain while urinating.

Serious infections can result from untreated UTIs

Most UTIs affect the lower urinary tract (i.e. bladder and urethra). More serious infection occurs when an existing infection travels up past the bladder and affects the ureter or kidney, which can potentially spread to the blood stream causing severe illness, and prompt medical attention is required.

It is important to seek medical attention if a urinary tract infection is suspected. Early treatment of UTI may help prevent the infection spreading further up the urinary tract.