Travellers' diarrhoea significantly increases urinary tract infection risk, as per new research published in the Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease.
Traveller's diarrhoea is a digestive tract disorder that commonly causes loose stools and abdominal cramps. It's caused by eating contaminated food or drinking contaminated water. Fortunately, travellers' diarrhoea usually isn't serious in most people — it's just unpleasant.

Urinary tract infection is more common among travellers than in the general population. All UTI cases were identified among visitors to the tropics. Travellers' diarrhoea predisposes them to urinary tract infections.
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) rank among the most common infections encountered in health care, with an annual incidence of 12% for women. Despite the vast numbers of international travellers (over 1.5 billion annually), no prospective studies have primarily focused on UTIs during travel.
Researchers recruited 2008–17 international travellers who all filled out pre-and post-travel questionnaires. Incidence rates of UTI were calculated separately for both sexes. Multivariable analyses were conducted to identify risk factors for UTIs during travel.
The results of the study are:
In total 15/517 (2,9%) travellers acquired UTI during travel, yielding an annual incidence of 62% for females and 18% for male travellers. Travellers' diarrhoea (TD) was identified as a factor predisposing them to UTI (OR 9.2, 95% CI 1.5–+∞, p = 0.011); travellers with Travellers' diarrhoea recorded all UTI cases.
Thus, according to their knowledge, the researchers concluded that this is the first prospective study with a primary focus on UTIs during travel. Our data reveal that among travellers, the incidence of UTI far exceeds that reported for the general population. TD was identified as a major risk factor for the infection. Our results suggest TD prevention as a means of also preventing UTIs during travel.
Reference:
International travel and travellers' diarrhoea – Increased risk of urinary tract infection by Anu Patjas et al. published in the Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmaid.2022.102331
Keywords:
Anu Patjas, Anu Kantele, Traveller, diarrhoea, significantly, increases, urinary, tract, infection, risk, Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease, Urinary tract infections, UTI, Cystitis, Travellers' diarrhoea, Pyelonephritis