Kidney infections can be caused by bacteria or viruses that spread in your urinary tract, but bacterial infections are much more common. Show In fact, about 90 percent of kidney infections are caused by a single type of bacteria, Eschericia coli, or E. coli, according to the Cleveland Clinic. The infection is thought to occur from bacteria that travel from your gastrointestinal tract to your skin surface, through your urethra to your bladder, then through the tubes (known as ureters) that connect your bladder and kidneys. Normally, urine flushes any potentially harmful bacteria out of your ureters before they can cause an infection. But sometimes this doesn’t happen due to the following conditions:
It’s also possible for bacteria from your bloodstream to enter your kidneys and cause an infection. This happens most commonly with staphylococcus, or staph, bacteria. (2) Kidney infections that spread from your bloodstream tend to develop after surgery or as a consequence of another infection elsewhere in the body. For example, if an artificial joint or heart valve becomes infected, the kidneys can become secondarily infected. It’s very uncommon for kidney surgery to lead to a kidney infection. (3) A number of factors can increase your risk of developing a kidney infection: Being a Woman In women, the urethral opening — where urine exits the body — is close to the vagina and anus, which makes it easy for bacteria from these orifices to enter the urethra. In men, the urethral opening is further away from the anus. Women’s urethras are also shorter than men’s, which makes it easier for bacteria to travel to the bladder and cause an infection. (3) Being Sexually Active Especially for women, having sex can make it easier for bacteria in your genital area or anus to enter your urethra. Using condoms with spermicidal coating also raises the risk that a woman will develop a UTI, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. (4) Being Pregnant When you’re pregnant, your enlarged uterus can press against and squeeze your ureters, reducing the flow of urine from your kidneys to your bladder. This reduced urine flow can make it easier for bacteria in your bladder to migrate into your kidneys. (2) Having Impaired Urine Flow The flow of urine throughout your urinary tract is an important barrier against infection. This flow can be slowed by a narrowed urethra, enlarged prostate, or kidney stone. (1) Having a Weakened Immune System Your immune system can be weakened by health conditions such as diabetes, HIV, and cancer, or by certain drugs. Wearing a Catheter Long-term use of a urinary catheter to drain urine from the bladder, such as during a surgical procedure or hospital stay, raises the risk of developing a UTI. Having Nerve Damage If you have a spinal cord injury or nerve damage around your bladder, you may not notice when you develop a bladder infection, which can allow it to progress to your kidneys more easily. Having Urine Reflux Problems A medical condition called vesicoureteral reflux results in small amounts of urine flowing backward from your bladder into your kidneys, potentially carrying bacteria with it. Vesicoureteral reflux is most likely to be diagnosed during childhood. Having Trouble Emptying Your Bladder If your bladder doesn’t empty fully, known as urinary retention, the remaining urine can contribute to developing an infection. (3) A kidney infection, also called pyelonephritis, is when bacteria or viruses cause problems in one or both of your kidneys. It’s a type of urinary tract infection (UTI). Your kidneys’ main job is to remove waste and take extra water from your blood. They’re part of your urinary tract, which makes liquid waste (urine) and removes it from your body. Like the exhaust system on your car, you want everything to work like it should so waste moves in one direction only: out. Your urinary tract is made up of your: If any of these parts gets germs in it, you can get a UTI. Most often, your bladder gets infected first. This can be painful but isn’t usually serious. But if the bad bacteria or viruses travel up your ureters, you can get a kidney infection. If left untreated, a kidney infection can
cause life-threatening problems. Symptoms of a kidney infection include: You may also have some of the symptoms of a bladder infection, such as: Call your doctor if you have these symptoms, especially if you
have a bladder infection and you’re not getting better. Kidney infections usually start with a bladder infection that spreads to your kidney. Bacteria called E. coli are most often the cause. Other bacteria or viruses can also cause kidney infections. It’s rare, but an
infection can also get in through your skin, make its way into your blood, and travel to your kidney. You can get an infection after kidney surgery, too, but that’s even more unlikely. Anyone can get a kidney infection. But just as women get more bladder infections than men, they
also get more kidney infections. A woman’s urethra is shorter than a man’s, and it’s closer to their vagina and anus. That means it’s easier for bacteria or viruses to get into a woman’s urethra, and once they do, it’s a shorter trip to the bladder. From there, they can spread to the
kidneys. Pregnant women are even more likely to get bladder infections. This is because of hormone changes and because a baby puts pressure on the mother’s bladder and ureters and slows the flow of urine. Any problem in your urinary tract that keeps pee from flowing as it should can raise your chances of a kidney infection, such as: You’re also more likely to get an infection if you have: After asking about your symptoms, your doctor will probably do tests
including: Your doctor may also use these tests:
If you don’t get treatment, a kidney infection can cause serious problems like: Your doctor will probably prescribe antibiotics, which you may need for a week or two. Your symptoms should improve within a few days, but make sure to take all of the medicine. If you have a severe infection, you’ll need to stay in the hospital and
get antibiotics intravenously (IV), through a needle. If your kidney infections keep coming back, there might be a problem with the structure of your urinary tract. Your doctor may send you to a specialist, such as a urologist. These types of issues often need surgery. You can do some things at home to
feel better while you have an infection: You can’t completely prevent bladder infections. But you may be less likely to get one if you: |
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