A study, published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, examined the prevalence of documented urinary tract infection in nursing homes as well as factors associated with antibiotic treatment of UTIs.
Researchers conducted the study in five nursing homes throughout Australia. They studied chart reviews of nursing home residents between Aug. 28, 2015, and June 21, 2016.
The study shows that UTIs accounted for 40 percent of all infections treated with antibiotics in the nursing homes within 30 days. One in five nursing home residents had received antibiotics within the last 30 days, of which 45 percent were for a UTI.
The most significant factors independently associated with antibiotics for UTI were:
• Urinary catheter
• Urinary frequency
• Fever
• New-onset hypotension
• Confusion
Researchers found confusion was the most prevalent factor associated with antibiotics in the population.