The urinary tract includes the kidneys, bladder and urethra, the canal that drains the bladder. All of these are subject to bacterial infection, known as a urinary tract infection, or UTI. The elderly are especially susceptible to frequent, chronic or recurring UTIs. If left untreated, UTIs can cause serious complications.
Sepsis
Untreated bacterial infections, including UTIs, can sometimes cause the body's immune system to overreact, leading to sepsis, a serious medical condition affecting the whole body. Because the elderly are more likely to have other chronic health issues or pre-existing conditions, such as a weakened immune system or heart valve problems, they are more prone to sepsis if their UTI is left untreated. Symptoms of sepsis include a rapid heartbeat and fast breathing rates and a temperature that is either too high or too low, along with an abnormal white blood cell count. Sepsis requires immediate treatment or it can cause septic shock, a life-threatening condition in which the person's blood pressure drops precipitously.
Pyelonephritis and Kidney Damage
When infectious bacteria in the urinary tract go untreated, they can reach the kidneys, a condition called pyelonephritis. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, signs and symptoms of pyelonephritis include fever, nausea, frequent or painful urination, pain in the back or groin and pus or blood in the urine. Recurring pyelonephritis could eventually lead to scarring in the kidneys, which in turn may cause acute renal failure. This means the kidneys have stopped working, and the patient has to have dialysis to remove waste from the blood.
Asymptomatic UTIs
In spite of the potential for serious complications with chronic, untreated UTIs, not all patients with bacteria in the urine are at risk. Many elderly people have bacteria in their urine, according to the "American Family Physician" journal, but they don't exhibit any signs or symptoms of a UTI, such as fatigue, confusion, behavior changes or weakness. The journal recommends against screening these people for UTIs, because if they don't have symptoms, they don't derive any special benefit from antibiotic treatment.
