Aanpak van urineweginfecties in woonzorgcentra in België: praktische adviezen op basis van 2 studies

International studies report a high prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria, urinary tract infections and antimicrobial use for the prevention and treatment of these infections in nursing home residents. The antimicrobial resistance in this setting is increasing, which leads to an elevated risk of acquiring infections with antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Two studies within the framework of a doctoral research KU Leuven (Belgium) could confirm these findings regarding the prevalence of urinary tract infections, antimicrobial use and resistance for the Belgian context. Moreover, this research provided insight into the clinical diagnosis and management of urinary tract infections in nursing homes in Belgium. One of the key findings is that the diagnosis and treatment of urinary tract infections in older women differ profoundly from the approach in premenopausal women. In nursing homes, this would require a different approach as the primary care recommendations are often extrapolated to this setting. This manuscript aims to present the main findings from the mentioned doctoral research along with some advice based on 2 studies.