Adverse outcomes in nursing home residents with increased episodes of observed bacteriuria.

We examined the association between an increase in episodes of observed bacteriuria and adverse clinical outcomes among nursing home residents without catheters. Although bacteriuria was not associated with hospitalization for urinary tract infection (UTI) or change in mental status, it was associated with use of antibiotics to treat UTI and with isolation of multidrug-resistant gram-negative rods from urine specimens, which suggested a causal relationship.