Introduction to urinary tract infections: an overview on epidemiology, risk factors, microbiology and treatment options

Urinary tract infections are common clinical conditions seen in both community and healthcare setting. Uropathogens develop specific characteristics in order to colonize and persist in the urinary tract thus leading to recurrences and difficult to treat infections despite antibiotic treatment. Enterobacteriaceae are a main cause of urinary tract infections (UTIs) with Escherichia coli accounting for the majority of isolates. The increasing prevalence in the production of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase and carbapenemase enzymes among gram-negative bacteria is a major global concern. Responding to these challenges includes knowledge of the local epidemiology, evaluation of risk factors for complicated infections and proper use of current antimicrobial agents to avoid excessive exposure to broad spectrum antibiotics and improve patient outcomes.