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Urinary tract infections in older people

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 May 2008

Lindsay E Nicolle*
Affiliation:
University of Manitoba, Winnipeg Manitoba, Canada
*
Address for correspondence: LE Nicolle, University of Manitoba Health Sciences Center, 820 Sherbrooke St, Room GG443, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

Extract

Urinary tract infection is the most common bacterial infection in older populations. It is an important clinical problem across the full spectrum – from elderly persons who are well and living in the community to highly functionally impaired residents of long-term care facilities. Symptomatic urinary infection is a frequent cause of morbidity, and urinary infection is responsible for substantial antimicrobial use. This review summarizes current knowledge relevant to both asymptomatic and symptomatic urinary infection in older populations, and identifies unresolved issues for further study. The discussion is relevant to older individuals without indwelling urethral catheters, unless it is specifically stated that the older person with an indwelling catheter is being addressed.

Type
Clinical geriatrics
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2009

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