Urinary tract infections in elderly women.

Although bacteriuria is common in older women, it is important to differentiate between symptomatic and asymptomatic urinary tract infections. Recent evidence suggests that treatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria may not be necessary. Symptomatic bacteriuria may occur with low colony counts cultured from either clean-catch or catheter-obtained specimens. Although few studies have targeted elderly women, longer treatment with a broad-spectrum antibiotic is recommended for this group. To minimize recurrence, attention should be paid to predisposing factors, particularly impaired bladder emptying, genital prolapse, urolithiasis, estrogen depletion and perineal hygiene.