Catheter‐related Urosepsis in the Elderly: A Prospective Study of Community‐derived Infections

Abstract

For the period 1979–1980, a prospective study was made of 13 elderly patients with catheter‐related urosepsis, who required hospitalization. Several features appeared to distinguish these patients: (1) a traumatic catheter‐related event invariably preceded the acute symptomatic process, (2) polymicrobic bacteriuria predominated, and (3) the urinary pathogens were often resistant to the antimicrobial agents commonly prescribed for community‐associated symptomatic urinary‐tract infections. A diagnostic and therapeutic approach for these patients is outlined.