Case Study 2
A 75-year-old man is admitted to the hospital for a severe urinary tract infection. A catheter is put in
place and he is given a regimen of the appropriate antibiotics. The infection initially begins to
respond to the antibiotics as the bacterial count of the urine sample shows a decrease in number.
After a number of days in the hospital with the catheter still in place the bacterial numbers begin to
rise again.
Discussion
1. Assuming the type of antibiotic and the initial dosage was correct, what may be the explanation
for the resurgence of the infection?
The explanation for the resurgence of the UTI infection could be from the presence of biofilms
already on the catheter before the catheter was inserted.
2. What action(s) may be taken to bring the infection back under control without radically changing
the antibiotic treatment in place?
Replacing the catheter with a new catheter.
Changing the antibiotic dosage or changing the antibiotic to a totally different one.
3. What actions could be taken to prevent this problem in the future?
Make sure you are using only sterile supplies and the daily assessment of the catheter site and
catheter itself
A 75-year-old man is admitted to the hospital for a severe urinary tract infection. A catheter is put in
place and he is given a regimen of the appropriate antibiotics. The infection initially begins to
respond to the antibiotics as the bacterial count of the urine sample shows a decrease in number.
After a number of days in the hospital with the catheter still in place the bacterial numbers begin to
rise again.
Discussion
1. Assuming the type of antibiotic and the initial dosage was correct, what may be the explanation
for the resurgence of the infection?
The explanation for the resurgence of the UTI infection could be from the presence of biofilms
already on the catheter before the catheter was inserted.
2. What action(s) may be taken to bring the infection back under control without radically changing
the antibiotic treatment in place?
Replacing the catheter with a new catheter.
Changing the antibiotic dosage or changing the antibiotic to a totally different one.
3. What actions could be taken to prevent this problem in the future?
Make sure you are using only sterile supplies and the daily assessment of the catheter site and
catheter itself
