APPROPRIATE MANAGEMENT OF ASSYMPTOMATIC BACTERIURIA IN THE ELDERLY (Atena Editora)

Abstract

Asymptomatic bacteriuria is a common condition in the elderly, characterized by the presence of bacteria in the urine without the occurrence of clinical symptoms. Proper management of this condition is extremely important as it can help prevent complications, requiring an individualized and evidence-based approach. A literature review was conducted with the aim of evaluating and understanding findings in the literature regarding the treatment and management of elderly patients with asymptomatic bacteriuria. The study is an integrative review of the literature, in which a data search was carried out in the PubMed and Google Scholar databases, using the following descriptors: management of asymptomatic bacteriuria; elderly, with the Boolean operator “and”. The selection considered the interval between 2013 and 2023. The exclusion criteria were works that were not freely available and that did not present the descriptors in the title or abstract. 3 and 1 articles were chosen, respectively, with the greatest thematic relevance from the respective databases. Treating asymptomatic bacteriuria in the elderly indiscriminately is not recommended, as a reduction in morbidity and mortality has not been demonstrated. Treatment is recommended only in situations of pregnancy, urological interventions and recent kidney transplantation and for patients with co-infection or immunocompromised. Therefore, it was observed that antibiotic therapy management in asymptomatic elderly patients does not have benefits that outweigh its harms, in addition to bringing additional costs to health institutions. However, in some specific situations, as described in the literature, there may be an effective result in the treatment of asymptomatic patients.