Asymptomatic But Altered? When Urinalysis Holds the Key

Altered mental status (AMS) is a common symptom in geriatric patients, especially in the long-term care setting. Traditionally, AMS has been associated with urinary tract infections (UTIs) in older people. However, data correlating UTIs with AMS are lacking. For this reason, asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) guidelines do not recommend using non-specific symptoms, such as AMS, to indicate a potential diagnosis of UTI. It is important to distinguish between colonization and infection, which can be done through proper interpretation of a urine analysis in the presence of UTI-specific symptomatology. In the absence of UTIspecific symptoms, alternative diagnoses for AMS should be explored. Consultant pharmacists are a key stakeholder and partner in ensuring appropriate antimicrobial prescribing practices, including identification of ASB in older patients.