Kidney Stones May Actually Be Bacterial Colonies, Study Finds

UCLA researchers found live bacteria inside kidney stones, challenging long-held beliefs.

2/25/2026|Updated: 3/4/2026

A recent University of California–Los Angeles study has uncovered bacteria hiding inside the most common type of kidney stone.

The unexpected discovery challenges decades of scientific thinking about how these painful stones form.

George Citroner reports on health and medicine, covering topics that include cancer, infectious diseases, and neurodegenerative conditions. He was awarded the Media Orthopaedic Reporting Excellence (MORE) award in 2020 for a story on osteoporosis risk in men.