Mini Review

Frailty associated urinary tract infections (FaUTIs)

Nikolaos A. Kostakopoulos^1,2, Nikolaos D. Karakousis^3,4, Dimitrios Moschotzopoulos⁵

1. Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, NHS Grampian, Aberdeen, UK
2. Metropolitan General Hospital, 1st Department of Urology, Athens, Greece
3. Department of Gastroenterology, Medical School of National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, General Hospital of Athens “Laiko”, Greece
4. Department of Physiology, Medical School of National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
5. Department of Urology, Gennimatas General Hospital Athens, Greece

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Keywords: Frailty, Infections in the frail, Prevention of UTIs, Urinary tract infections, Urosepsis

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Abstract

This review summarizes the current literature on the correlation between frailty and urinary tract infections (UTIs), as well as the potential causes and measures that can be taken to prevent and treat these frailty associated UTIs (FaUTIs). A narrative review of the literature was carried out using the keywords and other associated terms (catheter associated UTIs and frailty, causes of UTIs, prevention of UTIs in the frail, treatment of UTIs in the frail). As it is shown in the literature, many risk factors that are associated with frailty such as dehydration, reduced mobility and cognitive impairment, as well as other anatomical or functional abnormalities can make frail patients prone to UTIs that are also more difficult to treat. Early correction of these risk factors (for example avoiding long term catheters, increasing hydration, treating lower urinary tract obstruction or incontinence), can prevent UTIs and improve the quality of life of frail patients. Prompt and individualized antimicrobial treatment of UTIs in the frail population can result in decreasing mortality rates but also minimize unnecessary antimicrobial drug use.

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