Atypical Presentation of UTI in Elderly Paper

Atypical Presentation of UTI in Elderly Paper

Maria is a 67-year-old woman who has been using indwelling urinary catheters. She presents with frequency, loin pain, dysuria, and fever. Additionally, she has symptoms of urinary sepsis, urinary retention, vomiting and nausea, onset of incontinence, decreased mobility, acute confusional state, and altered mental state. She is suspected of having a UTI Atypical Presentation of UTI in Elderly Paper.

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UTI is a common medical condition in which the urinary tract is considered infected, to include either the kidneys, bladder or urethra with the result is a persistent pain in the urinary tract (Nickel, Bellou & Conroy, 2018). It is notable that unlike their younger counterparts, UTI presentation in elderly persons is not clear-cut since not all of the elderly will display the typical signs that include chills, fever, lower pelvic pressure, pain with urination, frequent need to urinate, strong smelling urine, bloody urine, and cloudy urine. In fact, it is recommended that inability to complete tasks that were earlier on easy to complete, falls, changes in behavior, confusion, urinary incontinence, dizziness, hallucinations, agitation, and confusion should all be considered as early warning signs of UTI (Griebling, 2014).

Still, a urine sample should be collected to confirm the diagnosis and guide the treatment approach. Other confirmatory diagnostic tests would entail using a CAT scan, X-ray, and ultrasound exam. Once the diagnosis confirms that the patient has UTI, then treatment should proceed with an antibiotic therapy focused on the particular pathogen that caused the infection. The prescribed antibiotic combats the pathogen and clears it along with the associated symptoms. Additionally, the patient should drink plenty of water, take showers instead of baths, avoid cosmetic products that could irritate the urethra, wipe the vagina front to back, and urinate immediately the urge arises (Luchette & Yelon, 2017).

References

Griebling, T. L. (ed) (2014). Geriatric urology. New York, NY: Springer.

Luchette, F. A. & Yelon, J. A. (ed) (2017). Geriatric trauma and critical care (2^nd ed.). Cham: Springer International Publishing.

Nickel, C., Bellou, A. & Conroy, S. (ed) (2018). Geriatric emergency medicine. Cham: Springer International Publishing Atypical Presentation of UTI in Elderly Paper.