The relationship between urinary stones and urinary tract infections is very complex, it is difficult to determine which is the cause, which is the consequence, which comes first, which comes later, it is like the story of "chicken and egg".

Nitrate is a by-product of nitrogen gas that is excreted in the urine. However, nitrate in urine is quickly converted to nitrite in the presence of Gram-negative bacteria, such as Klebsiella and E.coli. The presence of nitrite can be said to be a sign of urinary tract infection.