NR 601 Week 6 Graded Discussion: Urologic Concerns in the Maturing and Older Adult

WEEK 6: UROLOGIC CONCERNS IN THE MATURING AND OLDER ADULT DISCUSSION Men and women both can experience urologic concerns with aging. This week's presentations and readings covered urologic concerns and common problems. Utilize the national guidelines and scholarly references to develop your responses. Urinary Incontinence Men and women can both get UTIs. What factors contribute to the development of a UTI in men versus women? Include risk factors. In which sex is a UIT more concerning and why? Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common infections in people and would require antibiotics. UTIs occur when bacteria enter the urinary tract, and can affect multiple parts of the urinary systems, but the most common UTI is a bladder infection. Reoccurring UTIs can result in an infection that reaches the kidneys, causing pyelonephritis, but this is not common (Center for Disease Control, 2015). Females are at higher risk for UTIs compared to males. Females are at higher risk because their urethra is shorter and anatomically is closer to the anus. This allows bacteria to enter the urinary tract easier (CDC, 2015). Risk factors include having a previous UTI, sexual activity, changes in vaginal flora, pregnancy, age, urinary incontinence, kidney stones, and prostate enlargement. Sometimes in younger children may have structural problems with their urinary tract and/or they are not properly wiping. They may wipe from back to front instead of wiping from front to back. Common symptoms for UTIs are pain or burning when urinating, frequent urination, fevers, cloudy or foul-smelling urine, cramping and/or pressure. Diagnosing requires asking about symptoms, a physical exam, and specific urine tests. Patients can be educated on methods to prevent UTIs, such as urinating before sexual activity, keeping hydrated, showering instead of bathing, and proper wiping from front to back (CDC, 2015).