Prévention de l’infection urinaire chez la personne âgée :quoi de neuf dans les établissements médico-sociaux ? [Prevention of urinary tract infection in the elderly : what's new in long-term care facilities?]

Urinary tract infections are common in the elderly. They are a frequent reason for antibiotic prescription in nursing homes and hospitals. Doctors are confronted daily to the challenge that it is to diagnose urinary tract infections in older patients. The incidence of asymptomatic bacteriuria and the presence of unspecific symptoms and signs in this population transform guidelines for prevention and treatment into some kind of a battle. In this article we will : 1) make a reminder of the particular features of urinary tract infection in the elderly person ; 2) present the recommendations made by the experts and 3) emphasize the prevention of catheter-related urinary tract infection. The latter has already proven itself. We will also focus on the prevention of multi-resistant bacterial infections through the correct use of antibiotics.