A Systematic Review of Common Symptoms Associated with Urinary Tract Infections in the Elderly [paper]
Date
2022-12
Authors
Woodall, Lynn
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Abstract
Introduction: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a common infection seen in primary care. There are many key predictive factors including age, gender, comorbidities, and symptom presentation that can be used to quickly identify UTIs for rapid treatment to be implemented.
Methods: This systematic review of literature was guided by Dorothea Orem’s Self Care Deficit Theory, and by using databases including CINAHL, PubMed, and Medline to gather and evaluate articles for relevance and guidance. A Rapid Critical Appraisal Tool was used to further screen these articles for relevance and validity through a screening process with inclusion criteria to include or exclude articles for the review. The articles reviewed were used to answer the clinical PICOT question presented and the articles were presented in the form of an evidence synthesis table to give a side-by-side comparison of the research.
Results: Six cohort studies were ultimately included and used based on relevance, to show strong evidence that there are many key predictive factors of UTI in the elderly population that a provider can assess for in their practice to identify and quickly treat before complications occur. All six studies were able to support the clinical question presented.
Discussion: Based on the studies reviewed, there is evidence that improvements can be made in identification and rapid treatment of UTIs in the elderly with further quality improvement projects, more research into the signs and symptoms noted in a larger population with the key focus on identification prior to having positive confirmation of urinary tract infection.
Description
Keywords
UTI, urinary tract infection, elderly, key predictive factors, signs and symptoms, Nursing
Citation
Woodall, L. (2022). A systematic review of common symptoms associated with urinary tract infections in the elderly [Report]. St. David's School of Nursing, Texas State University.