The urinary system, primarily responsible for the filtration of blood and waste, is affected by several infectious and inflammatory conditions. Focusing on the lower tract, this review outlines the physiological and immune landscape of the urethra and bladder, addressing key immunological and microbiological aspects of important infectious/inflammatory conditions. The conditions addressed include urethritis, interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome, urinary tract infections, and urosepsis. Key aspects of each condition are addressed, including epidemiology, pathophysiology, and clinical considerations. Finally, therapeutic options are outlined, highlighting gaps in the knowledge and novel therapeutic approaches.
Journal of clinical medicine. 2024 Jan 05*** epublish ***
Kayle Dickson, Juan Zhou, Christian Lehmann
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada., Department of Anesthesiology, Pain Management and Perioperative Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada.