Gerontology Case 4: UTI Diagnosis & Management
Additional Subjective Data
Expanding the patient’s history would involve investigating his symptoms further – their onset, duration, and severity. Questions about changes in urinary frequency, urgency, pain, or blood in the urine might be asked. Changes in mental status, cognitive decline, or confusion due to his dementia could be discussed with the patient and his family. A detailed history of his past UTIs, frequency, symptoms, and treatments would be useful. Further, social history should include whether he smokes, drinks alcohol, and his diet, especially hydration habits, as these can affect UTI frequency. Lastly, it would be important to establish family history of recurrent infections or other pertinent conditions.
Additional Objective Data
Further physical examination, specifically focused on genitourinary examination, is required to assess for possible signs of infection or other abnormalities. Neurological examination to assess cognitive status and changes from the last MMSE score would be pertinent. The state of hydration is also essential to assess.
Differential Diagnoses
The primary diagnosis is Urinary Tract Infection (UTI), given the patient’s history and symptoms of foul-smelling urine and incontinence. Other possibilities are
Urinary incontinence due to deconditioning post-hospitalization.
Delirium, which could be secondary to a UTI or other illness.
Prostate issues, such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), could cause urinary symptoms in older males.
Laboratory Tests
Urinalysis with microscopy and urine culture can confirm UTI and identify causative organisms (Cardozo & Staskin, 2023). Blood tests, including complete blood count (CBC) and kidney function tests, can assess for signs of systemic infection or renal impairment.
Radiological Examinations
An ultrasound of the kidney, ureter, and bladder (KUB) could be ordered to rule out structural abnormalities. Further diagnostic tests like CT scans or cystoscopy are considered if there are recurrent UTIs or suspicions of prostatic issues.
Treatment and Prescription Information
If UTI is confirmed, appropriate antibiotic based on the culture sensitivity report will be started. Antibiotics like nitrofurantoin or ciprofloxacin are commonly used (Prasada Rao et al., 2022). Dosage and duration will depend on severity of the infection and patient’s health. Continuation of the donepezil and memantine for dementia is essential. Symptomatic treatment for restlessness and any pain should also be included.
Potential Complications from Treatment
Antibiotics could lead to side effects like gastrointestinal upset, allergic reactions, or antibiotic resistance with recurrent use (Dunne et al., 2022). In elderly patients, delirium could be a side effect of many medications. It’s essential to monitor these potential complications.
Additional Laboratory Tests
If his symptoms persist or worsen, it can be useful to reassess renal function or do blood cultures to rule out sepsis. Also, post-treatment urinalysis and culture would be ideal to confirm the infection has cleared.
Additional Patient Teaching
The patient and family should be informed about importance of hydration and personal hygiene in UTI prevention. The patient may also require further rehabilitation to regain strength after hospitalization. Teaching about signs of UTI recurrence or medication side effects is also important.
Consultation
Consultation with urologist could be required for recurrent UTIs or suspected prostatic issues. A geriatrician can help manage the patient’s dementia, while a physiotherapist could aid his rehabilitation post-hospitalization. A psychiatrist could help manage psychological issues like restlessness or sleep disturbance if necessary.
References
Cardozo, L., & Staskin, D. (2023). Textbook of Female Urology and Urogynecology. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003144236
Dunne, M. P., Sailaja Puttagunta, Aronin, S. I., Brossette, S., Murray, J. D., & Gupta, V. (2022). Impact of Empirical Antibiotic Therapy on Outcomes of Outpatient Urinary Tract Infection Due to Nonsusceptible Enterobacterales. 10(1). https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.02359-21
Prasada Rao, C. M. M., Vennila, T., Kosanam, S., Ponsudha, P., Suriyakrishnaan, K., Alarfaj, A. A., Hirad, A. H., Sundaram, S. R., Surendhar, P. A., & Selvam, N. (2022). Assessment of Bacterial Isolates from the Urine Specime
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