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Urinary Tract Infections in Long-Term–Care Facilities

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Lindsay E. Nicolle*
Affiliation:
Health Sciences Centre, Department of Medicine, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
*
Health Sciences Centre, Department of Medicine, GC430-820 Sherbrook St, Winnipeg, MB R3A 1R9, Canada

Abstract

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is the most common bacterial infection occurring in residents of long-term–care facilities. It is a frequent reason for antimicrobial administration, but antimicrobial use for treating UTIs is often inappropriate. Achieving optimal management of UTI in this population is problematic because of the very high prevalence of bacteriuria, evidence that the treatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria is not beneficial, and the clinical and microbiological imprecision in diagnosing symptomatic UTI. This position paper has been developed, using available evidence, to assist facilities and healthcare professionals in managing this common problem.

Type
SHEA Position Paper
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 2001

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Footnotes

*

Members of the SHEA Long-Term–Care Committee include Philip Smith, MD; Lauri Thrupp, MD; Kent Crossley, MD; Larry J. Strausbaugh, MD; Suzanne Bradley, MD; R. Brooks-Gainer, MD; Nelson Gantz, MD; Andrew E. Simor, MD; Sky Blue, MD; Carol Freer, MD

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