Yes, men can get urinary tract infections.

All of this interest was sparked by news this week that President Bill Clinton has been hospitalized for treatment for a urinary tract infection that spread to his bloodstream.

I first heard the news when I was in a room with a new male patient who recently had two back-to-back urinary tract infections.

So what exactly is a UTI?

UTI is short for urinary tract infection.

Most UTIs are caused by bacteria that work their way into the urethra, prostate, bladder or kidneys.

In men, there is usually a more clear pathologic cause to the infection beyond just the length of the urethra.

As a urologist, I see men get recurrent infections when they do not properly empty their bladder because of an enlarged prostate.

Men can also get infections that start from the prostate or testicles that seed up into the bladder, or the opposite can happen where the infection goes from the bladder to the other organs.

(I know this from personal experience -- I've had a kidney stone myself!)

Younger men may also present with urinary infections because of sexually transmitted diseases.

The most common bacteria identified in urinary tract infections is E.coli.

How is a UTI treated?

UTIs generally are treated with oral or IV antibiotics.

Most infections can be treated with oral antibiotics.

The best prevention is making sure first there is nothing anatomical that needs to be corrected, such as an enlarged prostate, kidney stone or blockage.

Proper hygiene can help prevent infections.

Are there any long-term effects on my body?

Recurrent, untreated infections could cause strictures, or tight scars, in your urethra that would slow your stream and make it difficult to empty your bladder.

Infections could also cause the bladder to lose its ability to fill and empty properly.