What is it about?
Inappropriate use of antibiotics contributes to antimicrobial resistance, adverse effects and medication burden. This study finds that a high percentage of antibiotics (85%) may be used for ‘unconfirmed’ UTIs. Prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria is higher in older people. While choice of empirical antibiotics was mostly evidence-based, duration was often inappropriate.
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Why is it important?
This study finds that up to 85% antibiotics may be used for ‘unconfirmed’ UTIs and that prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria is higher in older people. Duration of prescribed antibiotics was often longer than recommended. Targeted education goals have been identified and can be applied to all aged care facility settings.
Perspectives
Doing this research has identified an evidence-practice gap which I am now further exploring. Inappropriate empirical antibiotic prescribing can lead to increase in morbidity and mortality hence improving empirical prescribing in aged care settings is the primary goal of further study.
Dipti Khatri
University of Queensland
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Assessment and management of urinary tract infections in aged care facilities, Australasian Journal on Ageing, November 2020, Wiley,
DOI: 10.1111/ajag.12862.
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