What is a urinary tract infection (UTI)?

A UTI is an infection of the parts of the body that are involved in making and passing urine:

• Kidneys, two bean-shaped organs that clean the blood by removing waste products (urine)
• Ureters, the tubes through which urine flows from the kidneys to the bladder
• Bladder, the organ that holds urine until it is discharged
• Urethra, the tube through which urine flows from the bladder out of the body