Signs & Symptoms of a Urinary Tract Infection in Long-Term Care

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, about 8.3 million health care visits are associated with urinary tract infections (UTI). A UTI occurs when bacteria infect the urinary tract anywhere from the urethra to the kidneys. Long-term care patients are susceptible to UTIs because of their age and situation. Identifying the signs and symptoms of a UTI is critical to starting treatment and preventing complications. A patient in a long-term care facility who develops any of the following symptoms should be evaluated by a health care provider to rule-out a UTI.

Fever

• One of the classic signs of a serious infection anywhere in the body is fever. Fever results from the body's immune system response to the infection. The chemicals released by the white blood cells in fighting infectious organisms trigger a fever all over the body, even if the infection is localized in one part of the body.

Polyuria or Dysuria

• Excessive urination (polyuria) or painful urination (dysuria) are classic symptoms of a UTI. Polyuria is the body's response to a UTI in an attempt to "flush" out the infectious organisms from the urinary tract. Dysuria results from the organisms' release of toxins which irritate and destroy the tissues. However, these symptoms are difficult to identify in a person with a urinary catheter.

Delirium

• A new onset of delirium (confusion) in an adult may be a symptom of a UTI. This is because the infectious organism may have traveled to and compromised the function of other organs, including the brain. The fever may also cause delirium in some older adults.

Changes in Urine Color and Appeareance

• Normal urine should be yellow in color and clear in appearance. If a person's urine changes color to anything other than yellow and has a turbid appearance, the change might be an indicator of a UTI. However, changes in color and appearance may also be the result of changes in diet or medication.