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Escherichia coli (E. coli), a bacterium normally found in the digestive tract and present on the skin around the rectal area, is the organism most often responsible for UTIs. Other bacteria can also be involved, but E. coli is by far the most prevalent cause of UTIs (over 80%).
Structure of the female anatomy predisposes women to infection because the urethral opening is located very close to the anus, which is a common source of bacteria. Therefore, bacteria can easily migrate across the perineum (the narrow band of flesh between the anus and the vagina) to the urethra. Bacterial invasion can result in acute cystitis, the most common type of UTI. A more rare condition is urethritis, a condition in which only the urethra is inflamed. When bacteria from the bladder ascend to the kidneys via the ureters, they can cause a more serious infection called pyelonephritis. Although men do get UTIs, the structure of their physical anatomy makes infection less likely. The male urethra is much longer, and secretions from the prostate gland provide a better barrier against this type of infection.
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