Nearly half of older women diagnosed with urinary tract infections in an emergency department did not have findings confirmed in urine culture

Older adults represent an important and growing demographic in emergency departments (ED) across the country, with urinary tract infections (UTIs) being one of the leading causes for ED visits. In fact, UTIs, which can progress to serious health concerns, are the fourth most common diagnosis in women over age 65. But a new study at Rhode Island Hospital has found that many such women receive treatment for a UTI, but have no firm evidence of such an infection, resulting in the prescribing of unnecessary antibiotics.

The study, conducted by Leonard Mermel, DO, medical director of the department of epidemiology and infection control at Rhode Island Hospital, and his colleagues found that collection of urine to rule in, or rule out, a UTI in this patient population is best done by inserting a temporary catheter into the bladder to collect the specimen rather than collecting urine by the so-called