Asymptomatic bacteriuria in a population of elderly in municipal institutional care

Objective - To study the prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria (ABU) among patients in municipal institutional care for the elderly. Design - A cross-sectional study. Setting - Three different municipalities in southern Sweden. Subjects - 237 elderly people in municipal institutional care. Main outcome measures - Positive urine cultures. Results - In the first culture, the prevalence of bacteriuria was 42%; 47% for women and 30% for men. ABU occurred in 23% of the patients; in 26% of women and in 16% of men. Urinary incontinence was more common among patients with ABU. Conclusion - Bacteriuria is common among elderly people living in institutions. This should be borne in mind when patients in institutional care for the elderly have fever. Other differential diagnoses than urinary tract infection should be considered before antibiotic treatment is given.