About UTIs

What is UTI? UTI stands for Urinary Tract Infection. The urinary tract is a term for the parts of the body that are involved in making and passing urine.

This includes:

• Kidneys, two bean-shaped organs that clean the blood by removing waste products (urine)
• Ureters, the tubes through which urine flows from the kidneys to the bladder
• Bladder, the organ that holds urine until it is discharged
• Urethra, the tube through which urine flows from the bladder out of the body

What Causes UTIs?

UTIs occur when bacteria (or germs) enter the urinary tract and multiply, causing an infection. This infection can occur in any part of the urinary tract and may spread to other parts. In most cases, bacteria enters the urinary tract through the urethra and travel up to the bladder, where they multiply.

About Febrile UTIs

Febrile UTIs usually occur when infected urine travels into the upper urinary tract and the kidneys, resulting in fever (febrile means relating to fever). Infection in the kidneys may lead to permanent scarring of kidney tissue. Excessive scarring can reduce kidney function.