What Is the Relationship Between a Bladder and Kidney Infection?
Bladder and kidney infection are often related, one causing the other in a condition called pyelonephritis. It’s possible for bladder and urinary tract infections (UTI) to spread into the kidneys, where they can result in much more dangerous complications. Bladder infections, known as cystitis, often stem from UTIs, which are much more common in women than men. The prevalence of UTIs in women is thought to be a result of women having a shorter urethra than men as well as a urinary tract that’s more accessible and vulnerable to bacteria. Bladder infections, though uncomfortable, are very treatable with antibiotics if caught in time. E. coli, a kind of bacteria that normally comes from the colon, is a common cause of bladder and kidney infection. If E. coli finds its way into the urinary tract, it can cause a UTI, which in turn can cause cystitis, and from there, pyelonephritis. There are a number of ways to prevent bacteria from building up in the bladder—not waiting too long to urinate
