Some individuals may be more susceptible to catching recurring urinary tract infections because the infections can actually change the urinary tract lining, creating conditions that make an infected individual more prone to catching them again, findings published in Nature April 10 reveal.
Previous research into recurring instances of UTIs in certain individuals over others has largely been "poorly understood" until now, researchers wrote. This is despite the fact that the infections affect between 50 and 60 percent of women.
For some, UTIs can actually change the DNA in certain cells, which causes a "reprogramming"-like effect in the tissue, leaving it more susceptible to future infection.
"Our discovery of epithelial stem cell epigenetic reprogramming upon UPEC infection has implications for understanding the mechanism of epithelial-intrinsic trained immunity against not only UTIs, but also other types of infection or inflammatory disease," researchers wrote of their findings.
They suggest future studies focus on identifying therapies for recurring infections and inflammatory diseases.