ABSTRACT
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a major cause of individual morbidity as well as societal cost. Between 40% and 60% of women will experience a UTI at some point during their lifetime [1]. According to the 2006 national ambulatory medical care survey and national hospital ambulatory medical care survey, there are 8.1 million cases of UTIs a year in the united states and an estimated cost of 1.6 billion dollars annually [1,2]. Our understanding of the pathophysiology and bacterial factors related to UTIs has been greatly advanced over the last decade with the goal of identifying novel therapeutic targets and gaining better understanding of the host response. researchers investigating the urinary microbiome have also begun to explore the relationship between the bacterial milieu of the bladder and lower urinary tract symptoms, which may represent an alternative treatment pathway for patients with overactive bladder symptoms. this chapter will review the current understanding of bacterial pathogenesis and host factors that play a role in UTIs as well as highlight relevant research developments regarding the urinary microbiome.
