Molecular epidemiology of asymptomatic bacteriuria in the elderly.
OBJECTIVE
to determine the incidence and the dynamics of asymptomatic bacteriuria in ambulatory nursing home residents, and to characterise bacteria according to their phenotype and genotype.


METHODS
an 18 months prospective longitudinal study.


METHODS
42 nursing home residents (31 female, 11 males) without indwelling catheters.


METHODS
urine was sampled every 3 months. Antibiograms, biotyping and ribotyping were performed.


RESULTS
the cumulative percent of infection for females and males was 75% and 27% respectively. Osteoporosis was associated with bacteriuria. Ribotypes of consecutive Escherichia coli isolates indicated that each patient harboured a different strain.


CONCLUSIONS
asymptomatic bacteriuria in the elderly is a dynamic and transient phenomenon. Osteoporosis is common among this population. Ribotyping is a powerful tool in the elucidation of the epidemiology of this bacteriuria.
Rahav
Galia
G
Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel. galia.rahav@sheba.health.gov.il
Pinco
Erica
E
Bachrach
Gilad
G
Bercovier
Herve
H
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001437:Bacteriuria / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics*; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006707:Homes for the Aged / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010641:Phenotype; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D021521:Ribotyping