Some people are more chances of getting a UTI than others. Any abnormality in the urinary tract that obstructs the flow of urine sets the stage for an infection.
Urinary tract infection risk factors
Risk factors for urinary tract infections include the following:
- Bladder outlet obstructions
- Urinary tract that obstructs the flow of urine such as kidney stone
- Conditions that cause incomplete bladder emptying
- A common source of infection is catheters, placed in the urethra and bladder for draining urine from the bladder used mostly by people with incomplete bladder emptying.
- Enlarged prostate gland also can slow the flow of urine, thus raising the risk of infection.
- Congenital (present at birth) abnormalities of the urinary tract
- Peoples with diabetic have a higher risk of a UTI because of suppressed immune system. Any other disorder that disturbs the immune system raises the risk of a urinary infection.
- Being uncircumcised (in males)
- Rate of Otis gradually increases with age.
- Women have more urinary infections than men do. So being a female is a risk factor.
- For many women, sexual intercourse seems to trigger an infection.
- Several studies show women who using a diaphragm are more prone to UTI than who use other forms of birth control.
- Women whose partners use a condom with spermicidal foam tend to have growth of E. coli bacteria in the vagina.
Certain blood types allow bacteria to more easily attach to cells that line the urinary tract, and causing recurrent urinary tract infections.