URINARY-TRACT INFECTIONS IN ELDERLY WOMEN

Although bacteriuria is common in older women, it is important to diff erentiate between symptomatic and asymptomatic urinary tract infection s. Recent evidence suggests that treatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria may not be necessary. Symptomatic bacteriuria may occur with low colo ny counts cultured from either clean-catch or catheter-obtained specim ens. Although few studies have targeted elderly women, longer treatmen t with a broad-spectrum antibiotic is recommended for this group. To m inimize recurrence, attention should be paid to predisposing factors, particularly impaired bladder emptying, genital prolapse, urolithiasis , estrogen depletion and perineal hygiene.