The urinary tract is composed of two kidneys, two ureters which carry urine out of the kidneys, one bladder and one urethra, which carries urine out of the body. An infection can occur in any of these organs or tissues. An individual may have recurrent urinary tract infections, which are often treated by a long course of antibiotics, lasting up to two years, explains Discovery Health. There are several possible causes for recurrent urinary tract infections, or UTIs.
Vesicoureteral Reflux
Some individuals are born with a defect of the urinary tract known as vesicoureteral reflux. In this condition, urine can flow from the bladder toward the kidneys. If an infection is present in the bladder, it can then travel through the ureters to the kidneys, creating a potentially serious infection. This defect is usually found in childhood, due to its propensity to cause recurrent urinary tract infections. Sometimes, one or both kidneys becomes enlarged due to pressure from the urine flow. This condition, called hydronephrosis, is another potential cause of recurrent UTIs, explains KidsHealth, a health information website sponsored by the nonprofit Nemours Foundation.
Poorly Functioning Immune System
Individuals with a poorly functioning immune system are susceptible to recurrent urinary tract infections. This includes the elderly, people with diseases such as human immunodeficiency virus or diabetes that adversely affect the immune system, and those who take medications that suppress the immune system. A poorly functioning immune system doesn't effectively ward off bacteria and other harmful organisms that can infect the urinary tract, leading to recurrent infections in some people.
Personal Habits
Children and adults who put off urinating are at risk of recurrent urinary tract infections. This is usually due to a bacterium that has traveled via the urethra to the bladder. Instead of voiding the urine and bacteria out of the body, the person who holds urine too long in the bladder increases the odds that the bacteria will cause an infection in the bladder. Women and girls who wipe themselves from back to front can also cause recurrent UTIs as they pull bacteria such as E. coli from the anus to the urethra. A case study reported in the November 2003 issue of the "British Medical Journal" explained that, for women, sex with a new intimate partner increases her risk of recurrent urinary tract infection.
References
- "Medical-Surgical Nursing"; Donna Ignatavicius, M.S., R.N. and Linda Workman, Ph.D., R.N.; 2002
- Discovery Health: Urinary Tract Infection - Chronic or Recurrent
- National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse: Urinary Tract Infections in Adults
- KidsHealth: Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections and Related Infections
- "British Medical Journal"; Recurrent Urinary Tract Infection in Women; Josip Car, et al; November 2003
