Study of prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria and its associated risk factors in rural elderly female patients

Abstract

Background: Urinary tract infection is one of the most frequent bacterial infections in the elderly population occurring both in the community and in the long term care settings. Asymptomatic bacteriuria is common among the same elderly population which should be differentiated from obvious urinary tract infections. Objectives: To identify the prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) in elderly females from rural background and to examine associated risk factors Methods: In this prospective observational cross sectional study a total of 100 elderly female patients aged 60 years and above from rural background in whom routine urine examination revealed bacteria or pus cells without symptoms of urinary tract infection are studied.Results: Out of the 100 elderly female patients, 68 patients were found to have Asymptomatic Bacteriuria (ASB). Risk factors associated with asymptomatic bacteriuria are Diabetes mellitus, catheterisation, urinary incontinence and structural urinary tract abnormalities. E.coli was the most common organism isolated in asymptomatic bacteriuria patients.Conclusion: The prevalence of Asymptomatic bacteriuria was significantly high in rural elderly female patients and it should be correlated with the clinical features of CUE findings of pus cells or bacteriuria and also the risk factors associated with UTI, so that patient with Asymptomatic bacteriuria are segregated from patients with UTI who require antimicrobial therapy.