CONSEQUENCES OF ASYMPTOMATIC BACTERIURIA IN THE ELDERLY

Asymptomatic bacteriuria increases with advancing age for the ambulatory population. Men and women who are resident in long-term care facilities have an exceptionally high prevalence of bacteriuria. Despite this high prevalence and a high incidence of bacteriuria, urinary infection contributes little to morbidity and mortality in the elderly. While urinary infection is the most common source of bacteremic infection in the elderly, episodes of symptomatic urinary infection are infrequent relative to respiratory, gut, and skin infections. Substantial long-term complications of asymptomatic bacteriuria in the elderly have not been identified and their is no convincing evidence that asymptomatic bacteriuria is associated with impaired survival. Further studies of the impact of asymptomatic bacteriuria in elderly populations to better define the association with symptomatic infection are needed.