Urinary Tract Infections in Older People with Long-Term Indwelling Catheters

Catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CA-UTI) is a relatively common infection, especially among older people with long-term indwelling urethral catheter. The term CA-UTIis used to refer to symptomatic urinary tract infection in individuals withindwelling catheter. In general, less than 30 days with an indwelling urinary catheter is considered short term while 30 days or more is deemed as long term or chronic. Older people with chronic indwelling catheters have significantly increased risk of morbidity from CA-UTI compared to those with bacteriuria without long-term catheters.

In long-term-care facilities, an estimated 5-10% of residents require chronic indwelling catheters. Indwelling catheters are used more commonly in men than in women living in these facilities, with urinary retention being the most common reason. In a survey of nursing homes, the overall incidence and prevalence of symptomatic CA-UTI were found to be 29% and 2%, respectively. In one study, CA-UTI rate of 3.2 per 1,000 catheter-days (range: 0-7.3) have been reported in people with chronic urinary catheters. CA-UTI is a common source of bacteremia (50%) among long-term care residents. Read more..............