How does E. coli cause a urinary tract infection?

How does E. coli cause a urinary tract infection?

Urinary tract infections are sometimes caused when E. coli from your gastrointestinal tract get into your urinary tract. This can happen more easily in women because the anus (where poop exits your body) is located close to the urethra (the tube from which urine exits the body). E. coli bacteria can travel up the urethra to the bladder and even up to the ureters and kidneys. You may have been told – if you are a woman – to always “wipe from front to back.” This is so you don’t accidently spread E. coli bacteria from your anus to your urethra.

The most common urinary tract infections caused by E. coli are a bladder infection (cystitis), infection of the urethra (urethritis) and kidney infection.