A urinary tract infection has a singular cause which is reached by a variety of means. The infection occurs when bacteria reaches the patient's bladder or kidney, and then multiplies in the urine.

Urinary tract infections are most commonly found in several groups of people:

Sexually active women
Diabetes patients
Sickle-cell disease or urinary tract malformation patients

Some possible risk factors for getting a urinary tract infection include:

Allergies
Elderly status
Female gender
Increase in sexual activity ("honeymoon cystitis")
Poor toilet hygeine
Pregnancy in women
Prostate enlargement in men
Use of urinary catheters

Urinary tract infections may be caused for other reasons, and even those who are not "high risk" due to risk factors may still get a UTI. If you feel that you or a loved one may be at risk for a urinary tract infection, you might consider the prevention page.