Risk Factors for UTI
Risk factors for urinary tract infections include the following:
- Bladder outlet obstructions (e.g., bladder stones, benign prostatic hyperplasia [BPH, enlarged prostate])
- Conditions that cause incomplete bladder emptying (e.g., spinal cord injury)
- Congenital (present at birth) abnormalities of the urinary tract (e.g., vesicoureteral reflux [VUR])
- Suppressed immune system
- Being uncircumcised (in males)
Certain blood types enable bacteria to attach more easily to cells that line the urinary tract, increasing the risk for recurrent urinary tract infections.
