Antibiotic resistant UTI. Really?

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breathedeeply Asked June 2016

Antibiotic resistant UTI. Really?

Is this how my otherwise doing pretty darn well mom is going to die? Vascular dementia from stroke but a really happy camper @ 84. Her quality of life is very good and she is the most functional person in an excellent six person board & care home; enjoys visitors, food, entertainment... Unless she is having a UTI and just gets zonked. Wonderful staff is diligent about cleaning her up (urinary/fecal incontinence), but she has experienced three UTIs in eight weeks. She is resistant to most (all?) antibiotics and Septra either isn't working and/or she just keeps getting new infections. Internet searches made me feel so hopeless. She takes cranberry supplements, probiotics and has only two regular Rx. General health is quite good and she has her mobility w assistance. She has an sharp and excellent doctor who is thinking time for prophalactic antibiotics... BUT won't that stop working too? I know she is going to go sometime and I decided long ago, no heroics for her when the time comes, but does it have to be a damn UTI when everything else is going so good for her? Feeling so so helpless right now. Please know I'll be grateful for any advice, wisdom you might have. Thank you so very much.

Antibiotics Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)

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score 1 · Answer 1

UTIs are awful and so easy to get - my mom has had several in a few months
- a little diarrhea and it starts again - doesn't help she doesn't like to shower much

They can cause sepsis and lead to death

Once after hospitalization for a bad fall - my mom suffered for a very long time and went to an urologist to clear up the lingering UTI - it took more than a year plus she was younger (85) vs 93 now

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score 1 · Answer 2

It seems ironic, doesn't it, to come this far with good life quality, to be challenged with an infection that most of us can overcome fairly easily. Not fair! You vent all you want!

I like your attitude ... keep her happy and comfortable and no heroics. But a uti, for heaven sake? Sheesh! That is just insulting!

I hope there will be some improvements that can be made. Keep Pam's statistics in mind, too. Your mom is already on bonus time! That is something to celebrate.

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score 1 · Answer 3

Recurrent UTIs are a problem for many older people. My mother was getting frequent UTIs treated with a variety of antibiotics -- Bactrim/Septra, Cipro, Zithromax, and a couple of others. She went to the urologist, who prescribed her a very expensive estrogen vaginal cream to help with the lining there. It didn't have much effect and the copay was $120. (We could have tried Premarin, but I don't like the way they treat mares to get that.) After having UTIs every couple of months, her doctor started her on a prophylactic treatment of 3 Bactrim a week. I also give her a cranberry pill supplement. So far it has worked. I am glad we started the treatment.

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score 1 · Answer 4

Nobody knows for sure how the game ends. General health may look good, but the machine is wearing out at 84. If you were born in 1932, your life expectancy for a woman is 63. Why so low? Malnutrition in the Great Depression was rampant and had long term effects. If you were born in 1950 on the other hand, you should make it to 72. She is already a winner.

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score 0 · Answer 5

I've been reading up on this. It's scary, not just for the elderly but for everyone, antibiotic resistant superbugs are popping up everywhere. You might try giving her a good probiotic supplement.

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score 1 · Answer 6

Has she been seen by a urologist? It worked wonders for my 85 year old Mom with recurring UTIs.

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score 1 · Answer 7

I've always thought the human body an amazing thing, all the inner workings, especially women and the whole baby making, carrying, feeding etc. But there is a major flaw in the design when it comes to women, and that is having the anus and the uretha so close together. Typical women end up with UTIs on occassion- or more, but when it comes to incontinance forget about it! Especially when it's dual incontinance! I honestly have no advice beyond what you're doing - as long as your sure moms being well cleaned after having a bowel movement and also that her "Depends" is being changed frequently- really frequently! I know when my dad was on a catheter he was getting frequent UTI's and was put on a daily, low dose antibiotic and it did seem to help. But you do run the risk of her building up resistance, as you are aware. If it were me, I'd give it a try - after all, since she is getting UTI's as it is and they are becoming more and more difficult to treat, it seems you really don't have anything to lose.

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score 0 · Answer 8

Have you asked the doctor is there are any noninvasive procedures that might help? My mom has recurring UTI's as well. She takes the meds, it clears up, but they later return.

I've heard that infections like this are difficult to treat. Have you talked to the doctor about the cause? Are you sure she is getting cleaned well in the home where she stays? I'm sure there are others here who know more about this than me, but what if you changed the type of diaper she is wearing.

Also, is the diaper too tight. Sometimes there needs to be room there for air and not to have things so smooshed up.

What are they bathing her in? Maybe switch from a strong soap to something like ivory or dove for her private area.

And increase her water intake.

It's amazing how well she's doing with advanced vascular dementia. I hope she can get some relief with this.

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Antibiotic resistant UTI. Really?

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