This year’s Urology Week (22–26 September) shines a spotlight on urinary tract infections (UTIs) — one of the most common infections worldwide. A new European survey shows widespread gaps in awareness, with one in three people unable to identify cystitis, and many misconceptions about prevention and treatment.
For most, a UTI may be a temporary problem, but for patients with rare and complex uro-rectogenital conditions, infections are often recurrent, resistant, and potentially life-threatening.
At ERN eUROGEN, our multidisciplinary experts see the full spectrum of these challenges:
- Congenital anomalies (paediatrics): Children with bladder exstrophy, posterior urethral valves, or anorectal malformations face repeated infections due to anatomical differences.
- Functional conditions (adults): Patients with interstitial cystitis or urethral reconstructions are sometimes misdiagnosed with “simple UTIs,” when the situation is much more complex.
- Rare tumours: Patients undergoing treatment for penile, testicular, or adrenal cancers often have a higher risk of infection, complicating recovery.
By collaborating across Europe, we pool our expertise to improve prevention, diagnosis, and treatment strategies — ensuring that for patients living with rare diseases, UTIs are never treated as routine.
👉 Learn more about Urology Week
👉 Read the EAU Patient Information on Urinary Infections
👉 Explore ERN eUROGEN’s expertise areas, guidelines, patient information, and registry.
