Dehydration in older people increases their risk of developing a urinary tract infection (UTIs). Preventing a UTI is especially important as they can lead to severe infection and may result in hospitalisation.
Urine infections are often difficult to recognise because signs and symptoms, such as becoming confused, can look like other conditions such as dementia. This may result in over and under-treatment. Over-treatment with repeated antibiotic use leads to resistance to antibiotics, which means that they may not work in the future. Under-treatment may increase the risk of a kidney infection and other problems, including the need for hospital admission, life-threatening infection or even death due to sepsis.
- Click here for the ‘What is a UTI?’ poster
- Click here for a video which explains why staying hydrated is important to avoiding infections and preventing antibiotic resistance.
- Click here for information on identifying low intake dehydration in older people
- Click here for the NHSE/UKHSA