Asymptomatic Bacteriuria in Elderly Persons: Treat or Do Not Treat?

Excerpt

Bacteriuria occurs with much greater frequency in elderly persons than it does in younger persons. In young to middle-aged women and men, the prevalence is less than 5% and 0.1%, respectively (1). At least 20% of women and 10% of men over 65 years of age have bacteriuria (2-6). Some epidemiologic studies have shown a definite increase in the prevalence of bacteriuria in elderly persons that correlates with advancing age (2, 3); others, however, have failed to detect an increase (4, 7). Overall, 15% to 20% of women and 0% to 3% of men aged 65 to 70 years have