Interstitial cystitis as an infectious disease.

In the author's opinion, infection has not been properly ruled out as a factor in the development of interstitial cystitis. Dismissing infection as a cause would require special techniques to search for microorganisms not only in urine but also in bladder tissue. Infection is not necessarily exclusive of other theories concerning the pathogenesis of interstitial cystitis, such as autoimmunity or increased bladder permeability.