Symptoms of a urinary tract infection usually include a burning sensation upon urinating, frequency and urgency of urination, or cloudy urine that has an offensive odor. There may even be blood in the urine or tenderness in the lower back or lower abdomen.
Though urinary tract infections are more common in women, men---especially older men---may also be prone to them. As many as three in every 100 men may develop a urinary tract infection in their 60s, according to Patient UK, and these numbers increase with age.
Obstruction
According to Patient UK, the urinary tract may be obstructed by the prostate. If the prostate is enlarged, the urine may pool in the bladder and cause bacteria to multiply and infect this pool of stagnant urine. A narrowing of the urethral tube can also cause urine to back up and become infected.
Kidney and bladder stones play the same part in possible obstruction. They cause blocks in the passage of urine that dam up the urine and create a stagnant pool. This allows bacteria, viruses, fungi, and some parasites into the urine to multiply.
Foreign Bodies and Medical Procedures
If a urinary catheter is not sterilized properly, it can introduce bacteria and other agents that can cause infections in male urinary tracts. Stents and any other instrument inserted into the urethral tube may cause infections.
Bladder Structure Defect or Disease
If the bladder is in any way damaged, it may lead to infection. This can include cysts or tumors. This damage causes the urine to pool and stagnate, thus leading to bacterial infection.
Failure to Drain Urine Properly
Many of these infections are brought on because the urine does not drain properly. Any infection may be brought down from the intestines or from the anus area to infect the urinary tract. If the body cannot properly void the urine, then the infection will spread.
Other Conditions and Causes
Some neurological conditions make it difficult for people to pass urine properly, which can lead to infections. This is also true for old age and recovery from broken bones or major surgery that requires lying down for long periods of time.
Steroid use can also affect the urinary tract and surrounding area and lead to infection. If the immune system is already weakened from a disease such as Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, or AIDS, or if the person is undergoing chemotherapy, then urinary infections may occur more commonly.
