Any natural things we can also try? Are there liquid cranberry and probiotics? My dad us 84 yrs old. After over a year and a half of reoccurring uti, he had his prostate shaved because it wasn't letting his bladder empty all the way. Once again he has a uti's but now e. Coli and ESBL are also in his blood. He refuses to drink water, but I constantly give him water down juice, mostly cranberry and ensure. It effects his behavior and he becomes very confused and not nice! The doctors are really not that much help!
Thank you!!
You can talk to your husband's doctor and see if he thinks it would be worth a try. Elderly UTIs are hard for both the elder and the caregiver. You have my sympathy.
Couple of things I was told during discharge that are good to keep in the back of the mind for future reference:
As some of you have already pointed out, male UTIs are a little different from female UTIs, in both cause and prevention. Cranberry juice, though helpful, is not as effective for men, mainly because of the position, function and possible interference of the prostate. An enlarged prostrate restricts urine flow, resulting in a weak stream, partial emptying of the bladder, and freqent urination urges. In severe cases the prostate can cause 'retrograde urination' (leakage of urine into the body) due to restricted flow. The latter is more painful and, of course, a far more serious situation than a simple UTI, but is readably treatable by a urologist.
Another thing to keep in the back of your mind: as I was once told by a surgeon "All it takes is one microbe".
Here's some suggestions I was given at discharge to prevent/delay future UTIs:
1. Drink plenty of water instead of just liquids (use the old 8 8oz glasses rule if nothing else, but the more the better). Drink water and water based fluids (tea, etc) instead of anything else, all day long. That alone will facilitate urination.
2. Encourage (remind) the person to urinate as necessary. A good rule of thumb, in the absence of infection, is every 1-2 hours.
3. Be sure the gential area is kept clean, especially if the person is not circumcised (natural breeding ground). This may require trimming some pubic hair in order to be thorough.
4. If briefs or pads are used, check frequently and change if damp or wet. Clean the genital area with each change.
5. In cases of dementia, the brain may 'forget' or ignore signals of the need to urinate. It may be beneficial to schedule train the person, if possible.
Just some thoughts and suggestions from my own experience. Hope their helpful.
I do keep D-Mannose capsules on hand, as well as using a daily women's probiotic with cranberry extract for mom. (D-Mannose works well on the most common bacteria in UTIs, but there are specific other treatments, depending on the circumstances and whether other bacteria are involved.)
But of course, water intake is critical - and a difficult battle, I know. I keep a glass of water by mom at all times, but left to her own volition - even with constant reminders to drink - she will consume all of a few ounces during a day. (Micro sips!) Which is why I have a set of tall colored "shot" glasses that hold 2 oz. each and periodically throughout the day, I will have her drink a "shot of water". (I stand there while she downs it.) I also give her one of these with any pills she takes, doling out one pill at a time so she gets at least that much with any medication. (Again, left to her own, she would take all the pills at once with as little water as possible to get them down.)
I hope you find the article helpful. Best of luck to you!
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