Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 May 2008
Urinary tract infection is the most common bacterial infection in older populations. It is an important clinical problem across the full spectrum – from elderly persons who are well and living in the community to highly functionally impaired residents of long-term care facilities. Symptomatic urinary infection is a frequent cause of morbidity, and urinary infection is responsible for substantial antimicrobial use. This review summarizes current knowledge relevant to both asymptomatic and symptomatic urinary infection in older populations, and identifies unresolved issues for further study. The discussion is relevant to older individuals without indwelling urethral catheters, unless it is specifically stated that the older person with an indwelling catheter is being addressed.