How To Treat Urinary Tract Infection In Elderly

Seek Medical Attention For Utis

It is important to seek medical attention if you think you may have a UTI particularly if you think you may have a bladder or kidney infection, both of which are very serious conditions. Early treatment of urinary infection can help to prevent infection spreading to the bladder or kidneys.

Your doctor will test your urine to check which micro-organism is present. Urinary tract infections usually respond quickly and well to antibiotics.

Symptoms If The Infection Spreads To The Kidneys

When it comes to UTIs, there are a few things that might happen if you donât take care of your UTI. The first worry that will crop up if you leave your UTI untreated is that the bacteria will travel to your kidneys.

If the infection makes it to your kidneys, the symptoms and the stakes increase exponentially. Once again, if you find yourself with a UTI, try to get it treated immediately. Donât let it get to this point.

However, if it does get to this point, please keep an eye out for the following symptoms. None of these symptoms are natural or normal, so if you find that you have them, please consult with a doctor.

The symptoms to keep in mind are:

â A fever

â Flushed skin

â Back pain

â Nausea

â Vomiting

Again, there are potentially many other illnesses that might be to blame for these symptoms, but if thereâs a possibility that a UTI is to blame, please get it checked. It will only go from bad to worse from here, so itâs best to keep your health in mind before you find your health completely at risk.

Health is harder to keep track of as you get older, but that just means itâs more important to make it a priority. And, especially when it comes to UTIs, there are a few preexisting conditions that might increase your risk of them as you get older.

Control Of Urinary Tract Infections

For seniors that are immobile and can no longer take the best care of themselves, assisted living facilities may be a better option in ensuring that they are always dry and clean, and that proper preventive measures are followed. Senior caregivers at assisted living facilities are well trained about how to help elderly adults prevent and manage urinary tract infections. The senior caregivers will also accompany the elderly adults to visit their healthcare professionals.

The seniors may need to visit their healthcare provider to discuss the best care plan options. As urinary tract infection symptoms can present differently in each senior, the healthcare provider will be able to assess whether the older adult shows such a symptom.

You May Like: Can Weight Gain Cause Urinary Incontinence

What Can Happen If A Uti Is Not Treated

If treated right away, a UTI is not likely to damage your urinary tract. But if your UTI is not treated, the infection can spread to the kidneys and other parts of your body. The most common symptoms of kidney infection are fever and pain in the back where the kidneys are located. Antibiotics can also treat kidney infections.

Sometimes the infection can get in the bloodstream. This is rare but life-threatening.

Characteristics Of The Study Population

In the current 5 year retrospective cross-sectional study, 460 participants were included in which women 279 were in majority as compared with men 181 with a mean age of 72 ± 4 years. Most of the study participants 342 were in the age range of 6575 years of age and 118 were above 75 years. Majority of the included population was married 256 , Chinese 271 , non-smokers 312 , and non-alcoholic 318 . Detailed association between the sociodemographic variables with the treatment outcome parameters among the study population infected with UTIs is presented in Table 1.

Also Check: Over The Counter Urinary Incontinence

Are Any Tests Needed

In some cases the diagnosis may be obvious and no tests are needed. A test on a urine sample can confirm the diagnosis and identify what germ is causing the infection. Sometimes a dipstick test can provide enough information immediately. In other cases the urine sample is sent to a laboratory for further examination under a microscope. This result takes several days.

Further tests are not usually necessary if you are otherwise well and have a one-off infection. However, your doctor may advise tests of your kidney or bladder if an underlying problem is suspected. If you are a man, you may be advised to have some tests for your prostate gland.

An underlying problem is more likely if the infection does not clear with antibiotic medication, or if you have:

• Symptoms that suggest a kidney is infected .
• Recurring urine infections .
• Had problems with your kidney in the past, such as kidney stones or a damaged kidney.
• Symptoms that suggest a blockage to the flow of urine.

Relevant tests may include:

• A look inside your bladder with a special telescope .

Complications Of Uti In The Elderly: What You Need To Know

Urinary Tract Infection is one of the most common infections affecting older adults. When promptly and properly treated, UTI is easily managed and rarely develops complications. But, when left untreated, UTI can lead to serious health consequences which can include permanent kidney damage. In rare instances, an infection can enter the bloodstream through the kidneys and lead to a life-threatening condition called . Therefore, early recognition of symptoms, testing, diagnosis, and treatment of UTI is important.

Read Also: How To Check For Urinary Tract Infection

Senior Home Care Services

Centric Healthcare offers a wide range of specialized short-term and long-term senior home care services developed to meet the unique care needs of seniors while protecting their dignity. We work with you to create a customized care plan for you or your loved one. The care plan can be designed to address UTI risk factors and encourage preventive behaviors. Services are provided in-home, avoiding the infection risks associated with care facilities, nursing homes, and similar communal living arrangements.

Urinary Tract Infection Treatment

If you are a healthy adult man or a woman who is not pregnant, a few days of antibiotic pills will usually cure your urinary tract infection. If you are pregnant, your doctor will prescribe a medicine that is safe for you and the baby. Usually, symptoms of the infection go away 1 to 2 days after you start taking the medicine. Its important that you follow your doctors instructions for taking the medicine, even if you start to feel better. Skipping pills could make the treatment less effective.

Your doctor may also suggest a medicine to numb your urinary tract and make you feel better while the antibiotic starts to work. The medicine makes your urine turn bright orange, so dont be alarmed by the color when you urinate.

Recommended Reading: Treatment For Urinary Retention In Males

What Puts Adults At Risk For Getting Utis

The following is a non-exhaustive list of possible issues that might increase the chance of UTIs in adults.

â A History of UTIs

â Dementia

â Catheter Use

â Bladder Incontinence

â Bowel Incontinence

â A Prolapsed Bladder

â Menopause

â A Bladder Stone

â Kidney Stones

â An Enlarged Prostate

â Bacterial Prostatitis

If you have a history of any of these things on the list, keep an eye out in case you end up with a UTI. Luckily, itâs not guaranteed that these preexisting conditions will cause UTIs, but they all increase the risk.

So, what should you do if you think you have a UTI?

Private Duty Nursing Services

Sometimes, seniors need help with more than daily living tasks and require a licensed medical professional. Centric Healthcare offers the services of private duty nurses who attend to your or your loved ones medical needs in your home. Examples of our services that can assist in the treatment and prevention of UTI include assistance with catheter care, medication administration, and a trained eye that can help identify self-care needs and watch for classic and non-classic UTI symptoms.

Also Check: Best Way To Treat Urinary Tract Infection Naturally

Read Also: Can A Urinary Tract Infection Cause Diarrhea

What Is Urinary Tract Infection

UTI is a fungal or bacterial infection in any of the 4 parts of the urinary tract. The urinary tract includes the urethra, the bladder, the ureters, and the kidneys. The urethra and bladder are called the lower urinary tract, and the ureters and kidneys comprise the upper urinary tract. An infection will most commonly begin in the urethra and move up through the rest of the urinary tract. The majority of UTI cases are diagnosed and treated while still in the lower tract. When fungi or bacteria enter the urethra, the bodys own immune system will fight against them, and will usually kill them before an infection takes hold. If, for some reason, the body is not able to fight them off on its own, a UTI results.

Generally, a person who gets UTI will have one or more of the following risk factors:

Uti Causes And Risk Factors

The most common cause of a UTI in the urethra is a sexually transmitted disease. Chlamydia and gonorrhea are two STDs that can cause a UTI. STDs are also the most common cause of UTIs in younger men.

Prostate problems can also cause UTIs. An enlarged prostate is common in older men and can block the flow of urine. This can increase the odds that bacteria will build up and cause a UTI.

Prostatitis, which is an infection of the prostate, shares many of the same symptoms as UTIs.

Diabetes and other medical issues that affect your immune system can also make you more likely to get a UTI.

Also Check: Lower Back Pain Causing Urinary Problems

What Is The Difference Between Lower And Upper Uti

Generally speaking, a UTI isn´t dangerous, although it is painful. It is most commonly treated with antibiotics by prescription from a doctor, but if left untreated, the infection can spread from the lower urinary tract to the upper urinary tract and the kidneys. Such an infection can potentially cause kidney damage or even kidney failure. If that happens, the symptoms will get considerably worse with e.g. back pain, nausea and fever. From the kidneys the infection can enter the blood stream and spread to other parts of the body, which is a serious medical condition that requires intensive care.

Utis In The Geriatric Population: Challenges For Clinicians

Kenneth R. Cohen, PharmD, PhDAssociate Professor of Pharmacy and Health OutcomesTouro College of Pharmacy

Jerry Frank, MD, Fellow, AAFPClinical Assistant ProfessorSUNY Stony Brook School of MedicineDepartment of Family Medicine

Parker Jewish Institute of Health Care and RehabilitationNew Hyde Park, New York

US Pharm. 2011 36:46-54.

The challenge of developing guidelines for the diagnosis, management, treatment, and prevention of urinary tract infections is a daunting one. The condition runs through diverse populations of the elderly, from the walking well to the chronically ill. Each population has unique characteristics and requires a tailored approach to diagnosis and treatment.

In this article, the discussion of UTIs has been structured according to walking-well, chronically ill, and institutionalized elderly patients in order to better elucidate the issues associated with each population.

Recommended Reading: How To Flush Urinary Tract

Why Are Females At A Higher Risk For Utis

People with female reproductive organs are at a higher risk for UTIs because of their anatomy. The female urethra, the tube which empties urine from your bladder out of your body, is shorter than someone born with male anatomy.

The female urethra is also quite close to female reproductive organs. That means bacteria from sexual intercourse as well as products like spermicide can be in close contact with the urethra and bladder.

Females also experience menopause and pregnancy. These two biological events change the bacteria in your reproductive and digestive tracts and create conditions that make UTIs more likely.

What Causes Utis In The Elderly

Anything that introduces bacteria into the urinary tract or impedes the flow of urine and causes urine to stay in the bladder is very likely to cause a UTI.

Eighty five percent of all UTI infections are caused by Escherichia coli or E. coli bacteria. Several other types of bacteria make up the other fifteen percent, but E.coli is by far the most prominent, and it can make its way into the urinary tract several different ways.

Due to the proximity of the entry and exit of the above two pathways, poor hygiene can cause UTIs. Back-to-front wiping after a bowel movement can transfer bacteria into the urethra. Wearing soiled underwear or disposable undergarments too long can also introduce bacteria into the urinary tract. Bacteria in both cases is an infectious traveler that multiplies.

Don’t Miss: What Can You Use For Urinary Tract Infection

Institutionalized Older Adults & Catheterized Patients

Similar to other populations, the diagnosis of symptomatic UTI in nursing home residents requires the presence of genitourinary symptoms in the setting of a positive urine culture. In older adults who are cognitively intact, the diagnosis of symptomatic UTI is relatively straightforward. However, nursing home residents often suffer from significant cognitive deficits, impairing their ability to communicate, and chronic genitourinary symptoms , which make the diagnosis of symptomatic UTI in this group particularly challenging. Furthermore, when infected, nursing home residents are more likely to present with nonspecific symptoms, such as anorexia, confusion and a decline in functional status fever may be absent or diminished . In the setting of atypical symptoms, providers are often faced with the challenge of differentiating a symptomatic UTI from other infections or medical conditions. The high prevalence of bacteriuria plus pyuria in this population often leads to the diagnosis of UTI. Although bacteriuria plus pyuria is necessary for diagnosis of a laboratory-confirmed UTI, alone it is not sufficient for making the diagnosis of symptomatic UTI. To date, universally accepted criteria for diagnosing UTI in this population do not exist, making it difficult for providers to distinguish a symptomatic UTI from other conditions in the presence of new nonspecific symptoms.

Various Predisposing Factors Increase The Risk Of Urinary Tract Infections In The Elderly Adults

Common healthcare conditions associated with old age such as dementia, Alzheimers disease, and Parkinsons disease may contribute to a reason for why an elder adult could find it difficult to control when they urinate. As a result, this may lead to neglect of self-care, poor hygiene, or urinary retention. Many of the organisms, especially E. coli, thrive and multiply in significant numbers when there is urine retention in an unclean environment. Similarly, these older adults may also be at an increased risk of incontinence. Thus, you may consider encouraging your elderly loved one to wear incontinence briefs. If the incontinence briefs are not changed frequently, then the older adults may be predisposed to an infection. Fortunately, assisted living facility caregivers are available to support seniors with their activities of daily living and ensuring proper hygiene to reduce infections.

Dont Miss: Urinary Tract Infection After Period

Recommended Reading: How To Ease Urinary Tract Infection Pain

Understanding Urinary Tract Infections

Before we discuss UTIs further, you should know what parts of the body are being discussed. The urinary tract is the drainage system of the body. This is how the body removes urine .

When your urinary tract is working correctly, all the parts of the tract are working together. The parts that make up the urinary tract are your two kidneys, two ureters, a bladder, and a urethra. It also includes two sets of muscles that work together as a sphincterâthey are what stop you from constantly peeing between bathroom trips.

UTIs are very common ailments. They typically occur within 1 out of 5 women at one point in their lives. Although UTIs tend to be more common in women, it is possible for men, older adults, and children to get UTIs as well.

Doctors will typically treat UTIs with antibiotics. Itâs nothing invasive or painful.

Urinary tract infections are caused by microorganisms that enter the urethra and bladder. When these small bacteria enter your body, it causes inflammation and infection. If your immune system doesnât fight these bacteria off, they can travel throughout your body and enter your kidneys.

We donât want this to happen! There are ways to prevent UTIs, but keep in mind that they are more frequent in older adults. The risk of UTIs increases with age.

If youâre worried you might have a UTI, there are some common symptoms you should keep an eye out for.

Tests And Treatments For Utis In Older People

UTIs are infections of the urinary tract. The main symptoms of UTIs are:

• A burning feeling when you urinate
• A strong urge to urinate often

Bacteria cause most UTIs. Doctors usually treat UTIs with antibiotics, which are strong medicines that kill bacteria.

Older adults are often tested for UTIs, especially in nursing homes. But if you dont have symptoms, urine tests are not very useful. The tests can lead to unnecessary treatments that can even be harmful. This is especially true in older adults. Heres why:

You May Like: What Can Happen If A Urinary Tract Infection Goes Untreated

Diagnosis Of Urinary Incontinence

The first step in treating incontinence is to see a doctor. He or she will give you a physical exam and take your medical history. The doctor will ask about your symptoms and the medicines you use. He or she will want to know if you have been sick recently or had surgery. Your doctor also may do a number of tests. These might include:

• Urine and blood tests
• Tests that measure how well you empty your bladder

In addition, your doctor may ask you to keep a daily diary of when you urinate and when you leak urine. Your family doctor may also send you to a urologist, a doctor who specializes in urinary tract problems.