Pathophysiology: What Is Etiology?

Etiology is the cause, or what has triggered the condition, whereas pathophysiology is the science behind the disease process. The term infection refers to the invasion and multiplication of microorganisms (microscopic single-celled organism), for instance, bacteria (tiny single-cell microorganisms that come in three main shapes, spherical (like a ball), rod-shaped, and spiral), viruses (tiny infectious agents) and parasites (an organism that feeds off of a host), that are not normally present within the body. No symptoms may be associated with an infection, or it might cause several symptoms that may be extremely apparent. An infection can remain localized as well as it may spread through the blood thus becoming systemic (throughout the body).

Bacteria that are normally found in the large intestine and that are evident in stool (feces), are the most common source of infection. Normally, the urinary tract system has safeguards to protect against infection. BY emptying your bladder, your body flushes out many bacteria cells. A healthy immune system can also help to protect you against any infection. But there is always that slim chance that you may accumulate a UTI. Sexual intercourse is a common cause of urinary tract infections, especially in women. This is due to the fact that bacteria may move into the urinary tract. While having sex the urethra comes in contact with the bacteria found in the genital areas (sex organs) and anus, which allows them to enter the urethra, the bladder and can even make its way up to the kidneys, resulting in an infection. Individuals who are in hospitals or who reside in long term care facilities may also be susceptible to a UTI. Patients in the hospital or just about any individual that needs assistance when it comes to urinating due to any underlying cause may have a

This is a common source of a bacterial infection. There are times where bacteria traveling through the blood or lymph system (a network of vessels and organs throughout the body) can also cause kidney or bladder infections. Kidney stones (small stones made of minerals in the urine that stick together), structural problems in the urinary tract and an enlarged prostate (surrounds the urethra) in men can contribute to a UTI, due to the fact that it limits the body’s ability to eliminate urine completely. Bacterium such as Escherichia coil (“a gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped bacterium of the genus Escherichia that is commonly found in the lower intestine of warm-blooded organisms”), other Enterobacteriaceae (a large family of gram-negative bacteria), Staphylococcus saprophyticus (a gram-positive bacterium) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ( a common disease that causes disease in humans) all commonly cause UTIs. People with diabetes, type 2 in particular, are more prone to UTIs. Diabetes causes blood glucose levels to rise higher than normal. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of