Kidney stones have plagued humans since antiquity, yet despite our long history with them, we’ve apparently overlooked a key detail about the most common type, a new study finds.
Researchers in the US found live bacteria and biofilms inside calcium oxalate kidney stones. These are the most common type of kidney stone, accounting for nearly 80 percent of all cases, and were – until now – thought to be wholly made of minerals crystallized from salts in urine.
According to the new study, however, bacteria were not only present in these kidney stones, but may play a role in their formation.
“This breakthrough challenges the long‑held assumption that these stones develop solely through chemical and physical processes, and instead shows that bacteria can reside inside stones and may actively contribute to their…