Urinary Tract Infections in Elderly
Urinary tract infections (UTI) can be painful and can lead to serious health problems such as acute or chronic kidney infections, which could permanently damage the kidneys and even lead to kidney failure and are a leading cause of sepsis, a life-threatening infection of the bloodstream.
UTIs occur when bacteria in the bladder or kidney multiplies in the urine.
Urinary Tract Infections in the Elderly
Older people are more vulnerable to UTIs for several reasons:
- overall susceptibility to all infections due to the suppressed immune system that comes with age
- a weakening of the muscles of the bladder, which leads to more urine being retained in the bladder, which means the bladder does not empty properly
- incontinence
Symptoms of UTI
The typical symptoms include:
- Cloudy urine
- Bloody urine
- Strong smelling urine
- Frequent or urgent need to urinate
- Pain or burning with urination
- Pressure in the lower pelvis
- Low fever
- Night sweats, shaking, or chills
Older people with serious UTIs often do not have a fever because their immune system does not combat infection as effectively. In fact, they often don’t exhibit any of the common symptoms
UTIs can be mistaken for dementia
UTIs in the elderly are often mistaken as the early stages of dementia or Alzheimer’s, because symptoms are similar:
- Confusion, or delirium-like state
- Agitation
- Hallucinations
- Poor motor skills or dizziness
- Propensity to fall
Other conditions which make the elderly more susceptible to UTIs
- Diabetes
- Use of a catheter
- Bowel incontinence
- Enlarged prostate
- Immobility
- Surgery of any area around the bladder
- Kidney stones
How to Reduce Risk of UTIs
People with incontinence are more at risk from UTIs because of the close contact that incontinence pads and underwear have with their skin, which can reintroduce bacteria into the bladder. Some recommendations to help reduce this risk include the following:
- Change pads/underwear frequently
- Encourage front-to-back cleansing
- Keep the genital area clean
- If possible, set reminders using timers for those who are memory-impaired to try to use the bathroom instead of incontinence underwear
Other ways to reduce the occurrence of UTIs
- Drink plenty of fluids (2 to 4 litres every day day).
- Drink cranberry juice or use cranberry tablets, but avoid this if there is a history of kidney stones.
- Avoid caffeine and alcohol, because these irritate the bladder
- Avoid douches and other feminine hygiene products, as they can act as irritants
- Women should always wipe from front to back (for women)
- Try to wear cotton rather than synthetic underwear and change it at least once a day
If you think your elderly parent might have a urinary tract infection, make sure they see their doctor immediately.
