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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Jacqueline Rhoads, PhD, APRN, Department of Family Nursing, Louisiana State University Health Science Center School of Nursing, PO Box 50205, New Orleans, LA 70150, 504-495-6194, jrhoad@lsuhsc.edu

Problem: Is there a relationship between a fall and a urinary tract infection in the elderly resident in a LTCF? Do severely demented residents experience more UTI's than those who are mildly demented?

Evidence: Annual incidence of falls occurring in LTCF averages 1.6 falls per bed per year. Falls are not properly assessed and UTI's often are not identified as eitology. Elderly have age-related immunologic changes, chronic cognitive and or physical impairments and diseases that alter host resistance. Diagnosis of UTI in the residents of LTCF is difficult.

Strategy: QA Chart Audit of elderly residents of a 154 bed suburban long term care facility. Average age was 80 years of age involving 9 males and 71 females.

Evaluation: QA audit period: December 2003- June 2004 174 – falls (events) with chart audits

Results: *40% of residents fell on their way to the BR. *35% of these had a UTI discovered with culture and sensitivity. *70% had dementia - mild, moderate or severe.

Conclusions: There is a significant relationship between the incidence of falls and diagnosis of UTI. Significant occurrance of UTI's in demented residents Early diagnosis of UTI's could decrease incidence of falls.

Recommendations/ Practice Changes: A fall may be an indicator of symptomatic bacteriuria. All residents who fall should be screened for UTI. Any resident who displays signs of increasing restlessness or numerous attempts to get out of bed should be screened for UTI.

Learning Objectives:

• Assessing UTI's in the elderly residents in Long Term Care Facilities(LTCF)
• Analyze data from mini event falls audit to determine relationship of falls to UTI's
• Discuss treatment protocols for treatment of UTI's in elderly residents of LTCF

Keywords: Assessments, Elderly

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No