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Cited by 22Urinary Tract Infections ManagementEscherichia coli research studiesUrinary Bladder and Prostate Research

What is the Cause of Recurrent Urinary Tract Infection? Contemporary Microscopic Concepts of Pathophysiology

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Kim, Aram, Ahn, Jae Hak, Choi, Woo Suk, Park, Hyoung Keun, Kim, Sehwan, Paick, Sung Hyun, Kim, Hyeong Gon·2021·International Neurourology Journal
DOI 10.5213/inj.2040472.236PMC PMC8497731
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Abstract

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the most common infectious disease and are mainly caused by Escherichia coli. In this review, we introduce the current concept of recurrent UTI (rUTI) based on recent research dealing with pathophysiology of the disease. Although urine is considered sterile, recent studies dealing with microbiome have proposed different ideas. UTIs have typically been considered as extracellular infections, but recently, uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) has been shown to bind and replicate in the urothelium to make intracellular bacterial communities. Binding UPECs might proceed in many ways including extracellular expulsion for clearance or survival and quiescent intracellular reservoirs that can cause rUTI. Moreover, it is also suggested that other important factors, such as lipopolysaccharide and multimicrobial infection, can be the cause of rUTI. This review article reveals a key mechanism of recurrence and discusses what makes a pathway of resolution or recurrence in a host after initial infection.

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Kim, A., Ahn, J. H., Choi, W. S., Park, H. K., Kim, S., Paick, S. H., & Kim, H. G.
Affiliations
  • Konkuk University (KR)
  • Dankook University (KR)
Corresponding author
Kim, Hyeong Gon
ORCID
Venue
International Neurourology Journal
Publisher
Korean Continence Society
Published
2021-09-30
Volume
25
Issue
3
Pages
192-201
ISSN
  • 2093-4777 (ISSN-L)
  • 2093-6931
DOI
10.5213/inj.2040472.236
PMC
PMC8497731
OpenAlex
W3161134461
Cited by
22
References
1
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 1
FWCI
2.52
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • International Neurourology Journal (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
Konkuk University
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Urinary Tract Infections Management
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Endocrinology › Escherichia coli research studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Urology › Urinary Bladder and Prostate Research
Keywords
recurrent urinary tract infection, uropathogenic Escherichia coli, intracellular bacterial communities, urothelium, lipopolysaccharide, urinary microbiome, pathophysiology

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