Urinary Tract Infections: The Current Scenario and Future Prospects

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common bacterial infections worldwide, occurring in both community and healthcare settings. Although the clinical symptoms of UTIs are heterogeneous and range from uncomplicated (uUTIs) to complicated (cUTIs), most UTIs are usually treated empirical...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Giuseppe Mancuso, Angelina Midiri, Elisabetta Gerace, Maria Marra, Sebastiana Zummo, Carmelo Biondo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-04-01
Series:Pathogens
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/12/4/623
Description
Summary:Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common bacterial infections worldwide, occurring in both community and healthcare settings. Although the clinical symptoms of UTIs are heterogeneous and range from uncomplicated (uUTIs) to complicated (cUTIs), most UTIs are usually treated empirically. Bacteria are the main causative agents of these infections, although more rarely, other microorganisms, such as fungi and some viruses, have been reported to be responsible for UTIs. Uropathogenic <i>Escherichia coli</i> (UPEC) is the most common causative agent for both uUTIs and cUTIs, followed by other pathogenic microorganisms, such as <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i>, <i>Proteus mirabilis</i>, <i>Enterococcus faecalis,</i> and <i>Staphylococcus</i> spp. In addition, the incidence of UTIs caused by multidrug resistance (MDR) is increasing, resulting in a significant increase in the spread of antibiotic resistance and the economic burden of these infections. Here, we discuss the various factors associated with UTIs, including the mechanisms of pathogenicity related to the bacteria that cause UTIs and the emergence of increasing resistance in UTI pathogens.
ISSN:2076-0817