Risk Factors and Aetiology of Urinary Tract Infections (UTI) Among Elderly Patients Aged 65 and Above at Lancet Clinical Laboratories from January to December 202

Abstract

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are infections in any part of the urinary system, and the most frequent cause of bacteraemia/sepsis in elderly people. UTIs are the second most common type of infection in the body and are the reason for more than 8 million visits to the doctor each year. There is however no substantial information on the relevant factors and aetiological agents of UTI in the elderly age from 65 and above in Zimbabwe, a gap that needs to be filled. This research was a retrospective, descriptive cross-sectional study which made use of records stored by the laboratory information system of Lancet Clinical Laboratories Harare from January to December 2023. Therefore, there was a total number of 623 data that were extracted using a data extraction tool, MediTech involving the following: Laboratory Number, Age, Sex, Infection (Isolated organism), Susceptibility and Resistance that catered for the different variables of the study, for maximum efficiency. The total population of those found to be positive of UTIs was 260. The males proved to be less susceptible, with a population of 74, which is 28.46% of the positive cases compared to females 186 (71.54%). 376 or more measurements were needed to have a confidence level of 95% that the real value is within ±5% of the measurement value. Therefore, study sample size of 376 of patients was used for this study. This study brought to light the risk factors and aetiological agents of urinary tract infections in the elderly, analysed the relationship of the condition with age and sex. It also analysed the resistance pattern to the common drugs administered to the concerned patients. The results depicted that of the organisms isolated, and the organism that was mostly isolated was proved to be the main causative agent of urinary tract infections in the elderly and both in the male and female population. The gender most affected by urinary tract infections was the female due to certain features in their anatomy, and most of the organisms isolated were sensitive to most common drugs, despite quite of the amount of ESBL positive organisms were noted. The onset of most of the UTIs might have several underlying factors such as hygiene and general degeneration of the immune functions and other related conditions. A general awareness about the factors was brought to light, so as to minimise the risks. Prescription of medication was noted to be specific and sufficient enough so as to reduce the onset of resistant strains.