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Updated: Aug 30, 2026

Multiplex Detection of Bacteria in Complex Clinical and Environmental Samples using Oligonucleotide-coupled Fluorescent Microspheres
Published on: October 23, 2011
Molecular epidemiology of asymptomatic bacteriuria in the elderly
Galia Rahav1, Erica Pinco, Gilad Bachrach
1Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel. galia.rahav@sheba.health.gov.il
Objectives:
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.
Design:
an 18 months prospective longitudinal study.
Subjects:
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.
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