[Urinary tract infections in internal medicine]

Area of Science:

• Internal medicine
• Infectious diseases
• Epidemiology

Context:

• Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common hospital-acquired infections.
• Internal medicine wards often manage patients with complex health conditions and comorbidities.
• Understanding UTI characteristics in this population is crucial for effective treatment and prevention.

Purpose:

• To analyze the characteristics of patients diagnosed with urinary tract infections (UTIs) in Spanish internal medicine hospital wards.
• To identify risk factors, diagnostic criteria, microbiological profiles, and antibiotic usage in hospitalized UTI patients.
• To evaluate the impact of UTIs on hospital stay and patient outcomes.

Summary:

• A retrospective study of 992 internal medicine patients with UTIs in Spain revealed a predominantly older population (mean age 75.3 years) with significant risk factors like diabetes and catheterization.
• Escherichia coli was the most common pathogen (64.17%), with notable resistance to common antibiotics like ciprofloxacin (40.6%).
• UTIs were often diagnosed using non-specific criteria, and antibiotic resistance patterns indicate that quinolones may not be optimal first-line treatments for complicated or severe cases.

Impact:

• Findings highlight the need for improved diagnostic accuracy and antibiotic stewardship in managing UTIs in internal medicine.
• The study suggests reassessing first-line antibiotic choices for complicated UTIs due to rising resistance.
• Results contribute to a better understanding of UTI epidemiology and management in hospitalized elderly patients.