Preventing urinary tract infections in aged care

Why UTIs matter in aged care

Urinary tract infections are one of the most common infections in older people. Continence problems, catheters, reduced mobility and not drinking enough all raise the risk, and an infection can lead to confusion, falls or a hospital stay.

Everyday habits that help

• Clean your hands and change gloves between residents, and between continence care and any clean task.
• Offer drinks regularly, following each resident's care plan and any fluid restrictions.
• Support regular toileting so residents aren't left waiting.
• Change continence aids promptly when wet or soiled.
• Clean front to back during perineal care, using a fresh wipe or cloth for each stroke.

Residents with a urinary catheter

Catheters are a major cause of UTIs, so follow your service's catheter care procedure exactly. In general:

• Clean your hands and wear gloves before touching the catheter or bag.
• Keep the drainage bag below the level of the bladder and off the floor.
• Keep the tubing free of kinks so urine can drain.
• Empty the bag into a clean container without letting the tap touch it.
• Don't disconnect the system unless the procedure says to.

Signs to report

Report new or worsening confusion, fever, pain or burning when passing urine, needing to go more often, new incontinence, or blood in the urine. Strong-smelling or cloudy urine on its own isn't a reliable sign of infection.

Why "just test it" isn't always the answer

Many older people have bacteria in their urine without being sick. Treating that with antibiotics doesn't help and adds to antibiotic resistance, so nurses and doctors decide on testing based on symptoms. Follow your service's procedure rather than testing on your own initiative.