Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are characterized by an infection, usually bacterial, in any part of the urinary tract, whether in the bladder, urethra, or kidney. They are among the most common nosocomial infections in Spain, meaning infections acquired in healthcare facilities, not just hospitals, and the frequency of these infections in people with diabetes is 2-3 times higher than in the general population.
This urinary problem is more common in women: 50% will have a urinary tract infection during their lifetime, according to the Spanish Society of Nephrology (SEN), and 30% have had a cystitis episode in the last year, according to the Cystitis Information Center. While in men it is less frequent, with two peaks of incidence: during the first year of life and in those over 50 years old, related to prostate problems. The prevalence of urinary tract infections in healthy 70-year-old men is 3.5%.
The reason lies in the shorter length of the female urethra, which is only 4 centimeters, while the male urethra is 16. A shorter urethra allows bacteria living in the pelvic floor of the genital area (the area between the vagina and the anus) to ascend to the urinary system more easily.
The incidence of urinary tract infections in adult women depends on age, sexual activity, and the contraceptive method used. Between 1% and 3% of women between 15 and 24 years old present with bacteriuria (presence of bacteria in the urine), with the incidence increasing by 2% each decade of life.
Pregnant women are more susceptible to these types of infections. The prevalence of bacteriuria is 4-10%; 60% of them will develop a urinary tract infection if not treated, and one third will develop pyelonephritis, due to hormonal changes during pregnancy.
More than 95% of infections are monomicrobial (only one microorganism), with Escherichia coli being responsible for 70-80% of cases. S. Saprophyticus is the second most common in 5-15% of cases in women between 15 and 25 years old, followed by other bacteria such as Proteus mirabilis, Klebsiella pneumoniae…
Urinary tract infections are among the most prevalent infectious diseases, so the economic burden they place on society, as well as on healthcare, should not go unnoticed.
