149 – UTIs in Older Adults: Symptoms & Prevention

In This Episode:

Dr. K talks with fellow geriatrician and guest expert Chrissy Kistler, MD, as they explore how UTIs change with age, the symptoms to watch for, and the best ways to prevent and treat them. Learn the difference between a true UTI and asymptomatic bacteriuria (also known as a “colonized bladder”) and why confusion is often mistaken for a UTI symptom. Learn when to take antibiotics for symptoms and when it’s probably unnecessary.

They cover:

• UTIs in Older Adults
• Defining Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)
• Symptoms of UTIs
• The Impact of Aging on UTIs
• Asymptomatic Bacteriuria (“Colonized bladder”) vs. Clinical UTI
• Diagnosing UTIs in Older Adults
• Using Urine Dipsticks (Urinalysis)
• Men and UTIs
• About Chronic UTIs
• Confusion and UTIs
• Should Chronic Bladder Bacteria be Treated?
• Treating Recurrent UTIs
• Questions to Ask Healthcare Providers

Related episode: 

041 – UTIs and Urine Bacteria in Aging: How to get the right diagnosis & avoid unneeded antibiotics

Related Resources:

• • UTIs and Urine Bacteria in Aging: How to get the right diagnosis & avoid unneeded antibiotics
  • 10 Things to Know About Delirium
  • CDC: Urinary Tract Infection Basics
  • Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Asymptomatic Bacteriuria: 2019 Update by Infectious Disease Society of America