Urinary tract infections in hospitalised elderly patients

Abstract

The increased susceptibility to urinary tract infection (UTI) in the geriatric patient is mainly due to physiologic aging as well as to an age-related increase in chronic degenerative diseases (Sant, 1987). These factors, together with hospitalisation, constitute a greater risk of infection by exposing patients to invasive procedures, such as urethral catheterisation, in an environment abundant with antibiotic resistant pathogens. Two studies were carried out: a) to assess age, female sex, and catheterisation as predisposing factors to UTIs. bi) to determine the prevalence of bacteriuria in urethrally catheterised patients, and whether there was a change in the infecting uropathogens with time. bii) to evaluate underlying diseases and other factors that may predispose to UTIs in an elderly patient. Consequences of infection were also considered. biii) to evaluate the treatment of symptomatic UTIs and the impact of antibiotic therapy on bacteriuria.