Pathogenesis of urinary tract infections. Bacterial adherence, bladder defense mechanisms.

Bacterial virulence depends upon the ability of bacteria to adhere to mucosal cells. The risk of infection is increased by bacterial factors promoting this adherence and the fact that bacterial surface structures seek epithelial receptors. The host's ability to inactivate bacterial virulence factors and to "mask" its own cell receptors determines whether infections are to be warded off successfully. The current knowledge of these processes is reviewed in this article.