Skip to main content
. 2023 Apr 20;12(4):623. doi: 10.3390/pathogens12040623

Figure 1.

Figure 1

Pathogenesis of UTI. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) start when uropathogens colonize the urethra and subsequently the bladder through the action of specific adhesins. If the bacteria are able to evade the immune system, they begin to multiply and biofilms form. Bacteria can reach the kidney from the lower urinary tract, and UTI can evolve into bacteremia. In complicated UTI, uropathogens are usually able to bind to the catheter and multiply due to the protection of the biofilm. If left untreated, the infection can progress to pyelonephritis and bacteraemia.