A young adult woman with no significant past medical history presents with dysuria, urgency, and suprapubic discomfort. She reports that these symptoms appeared suddenly 3 days after her most recent episode of sexual intercourse and have persisted for the last two days. Her physical examination is unremarkable, and urinalysis shows pyuria and bacteriuria.

What is the most likely major contributor to the pathogenesis of her condition?

a. Defective immune response
b. Prior use of antibiotics
c. Recent sexual activity
d. Poor hand hygiene before urination

UTIs are often associated with sexual intercourse, especially in women, due to the increased risk of bacteria entering the urinary tract. The presence of pyuria and bacteriuria further supports this diagnosis. The most likely major contributor to the pathogenesis of her condition is recent sexual activity.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are commonly associated with sexual activity, particularly in women, due to the shorter urethra and the introduction of bacteria from the lower gastrointestinal tract into the urinary tract during intercourse. With the sudden onset of symptoms following sexual intercourse and the presence of pyuria and bacteriuria in the urinalysis.