A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection of the urinary system. The urinary system consists of the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. Urinary tract infections are a common acute condition that can, for the most part, be treated with antibiotics in an outpatient setting. However, this condition can progress to more clinically significant infections, such as a kidney infection (pyelonephritis), in vulnerable individuals with inadequate treatment.

Admission for a urinary tract infection is not a measure of hospital quality, but rather one way to measure outpatient care of urinary tract infections. Proper outpatient treatment may reduce the likelihood of hospital admission for urinary tract infections.