Review article

COMPLICATED URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS IN THE ELDERLY

IVAN ĆOSIĆ ; Josip Juraj Strossmayer University in Osijek, University Hospital Center, School of Medicine, Department of Urology, Osijek, Croatia
VEDRANA ĆOSIĆ ; Josip Juraj Strossmayer University in Osijek, University Hospital Center, School of Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, Osijek, Croatia

Abstract

Urinary tract infections (UTI) are the most common bacterial infections involving lower (cystitis, prostatitis) or upper (pyelonephritis, renal abscess, perinephric abscess) urinary tract. Differentiation of complicated and uncomplicated UTI is usually based on the presence of structural or functional urinary tract abnormalities, which can increase the risk of treatment failure and development of serious complications. Factors that increase the risk are foreign bodies, stones, obstruction, neurogenic bladder, kidney transplantation, immunosuppression, and pregnancy. Complicated UTI includes a spectrum of conditions that increase the risk of treatment failure, as well as of serious complications such as bacteremia and sepsis, perinephric abscess, renal impairment and emphysematous pyelonephritis. To avoid the potentially devastating outcomes, appropriate diagnostic procedures, antibiotic and surgical treatment, and appropriate follow-up are required. The incidence of complicated UTI will grow in the future due to general aging of the population, increasing incidence of diabetes, and ever growing number of immunocompromised and immunosuppressed patients. It is of key importance to recognize complicated UTI on time, and treat it wisely and aggressively to reduce duration of the disease and the risk of antibiotic resistance.

Keywords

urinary tract infection; pregnancy; urinary retention; diabetes; kidney transplantation

Hrčak ID:

179208

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/179208

Publication date:

6.4.2017.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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