Reaching the end of the line: Urinary tract infections

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) refer to bacterial colonization of the urinary tract and are one of the most common bacterial infections, infecting an estimated 150 million people worldwide annually. In the United States alone, nearly 11 million cases are reported each year, resulting in approximately $5 billion in indirect and direct costs annually (1, 2). More than 50% of women will experience at least one UTI in their lifetime, and, despite antibiotic intervention, 20 to 30% of women with an initial UTI will experience a recurrent UTI (rUTI) within 3 to 4 months of the initial infection (2, 3). Such infections therefore represent a great health care burden and, as such, demand further research to advance treatment options and improve patient care. This article outlines what is currently known about the determinants and features of Escherichia coli pathogenesis in UTIs and highlights how such knowledge is now being translated into tools for alleviating that burden clinically.