Urinary Tract Infections in Nursing Homes

Anthony C. Lanzone, Founding Partner

KEY TAKEAWAY

Urinary tract infections in nursing homes can cause permanent or fatal complications, such as sepsis. Many UTIs in nursing homes are caused by negligence.

Table of Contents:

UTIs in Nursing Homes: A Critical Health Concern for Seniors
What Are the Risk Factors for Urinary Tract Infections in the Elderly?
Causes of UTIs in Nursing Homes
Why Are UTIs So Common in Nursing Homes?
What Complications Can Arise from Untreated UTIs in Nursing Home Residents?
The Role of Nursing Home Staff in UTI Prevention and Treatment
Compensation for Injuries from Urinary Tract Infections

When you place a loved one in a nursing home, you expect their health outcome to look brighter. However, older adults in nursing homes are more likely to experience urinary tract infections, or UTIs, than those living in their own homes. UTIs are one of the most common types of infections in nursing homes, and they can cause serious health complications, including sepsis.

Older adults are naturally more susceptible to UTIs, but nursing home staff increase the risk through inappropriate use of indwelling catheters, overuse of antibiotics, poor infection control, and other forms of negligence. If your loved one has suffered complications from a UTI in a nursing home, the experienced California nursing home abuse lawyers at Lanzone Morgan, LLP, can investigate and pursue the justice they deserve. Call (888) 887-9777 today for a free consultation.

UTIs in Nursing Homes: A Critical Health Concern for Seniors

Urinary tract infections can develop in the bladder, urethra, or kidneys and occur when bacteria enter the urethra through the skin or rectum. Urinary tract infections are the most common type of infection in nursing homes.

Common Symptoms of Urinary Tract Infections For Nursing Home Residents

Classic symptoms of urinary tract infections include a persistent urge to urinate, painful urination, blood in the urine, a strong odor in the urine, and lower abdominal pain or discomfort. Some older adults experience these symptoms when they have a UTI, but many experience more subtle symptoms, such as the following:

Incontinence, when they are normally not incontinent
Confusion or delirium
Fatigue
Weakness
Loss of appetite
Falls

Confusion is one of the most common symptoms in older adults suffering from urinary tract infections. If you notice a sudden and alarming change in your loved one’s mental status, a UTI may be the cause, regardless of whether they have any classic UTI symptoms. Alert nursing home staff or call 911 if staff fail to take your concerns seriously.

What Are The Risk Factors For Urinary Tract Infections In The Elderly?

According to a study published in the journal Health Technology Assessment , UTIs are the most diagnosed infection in older adults, accounting for over 50% of antibiotic prescriptions in care homes. Some seniors have heightened risks of UTIs because of individual characteristics, such as the following:

Female sex
Old age
Urinary or bowel incontinence
Chronic catheterization
Diabetes
Chronic conditions
Weakened immunity
Immune-suppressive medications
Enlarged prostate
History of UTIs
History of urinary tract surgeries
Dementia
Difficulty emptying the bladder
Lack of mobility
Resident of a nursing home

Most nursing home residents are admitted with at least one risk factor. Staff can lower the risk by providing proactive care, such as proper hygiene care, infection control, and incontinence prevention. Residents living in understaffed nursing homes have the highest risk of UTI due to neglected hygiene.

Causes of UTIs in Nursing Homes

Urinary tract infections are caused by bacteria entering the urethra and spreading to the bladder. Many UTIs are caused by E. coli, which comes from human feces. Recurrent urinary tract infections are a red flag for nursing home neglect. If your loved one experienced complications from one or more UTIs in a nursing home, our legal team can determine whether nursing home neglect is responsible.

Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, urinary catheters are responsible for 75% of UTIs in hospital settings, even though only 15% to 25% of hospitalized patients receive them. Nursing homes often use indwelling catheters as a substitute for incontinence care. Such use is inappropriate. Urinary catheters should only be used when medically necessary, such as for the treatment of urinary blockages.

Almost all residents with indwelling catheters contract bacteriuria, an asymptomatic accumulation of bacteria in the urinary tract. Bacteriuria does not require treatment, but it can progress to a full-blown UTI.

Over time, bacteria can colonize the catheter equipment. The risk of bacteriuria increases by 3% to 10% every day the catheter remains in place. Foreign bacteria also may be introduced when the catheter is inserted or removed.

Poor Hygiene Care

Immobile residents who cannot care for themselves must rely on staff to change incontinence pads, linens, and undergarments. In understaffed nursing homes, residents wait hours to be cleaned and changed. Excessive moisture and prolonged exposure to feces can cause the skin to break down, creating a breeding ground for bacteria that can enter the urinary tract and lead to infections.

Lack of Infection Control

Understaffing in nursing homes is a significant contributor to inadequate infection control. Nursing staff are often responsible for an excessive number of residents per person, which puts pressure on them to rush through care and cut corners. We have seen many cases where infections have been transmitted because of the following infection control violations:

Inadequate hand hygiene
Inadequate use of personal protective equipment
Unsanitary food handling practices
Dirty bathrooms and shower rooms
Unsterilized instruments
Poor housekeeping
Inadequate wound care
Improper catheter care

According to an LA Times investigation, nursing homes rarely face appropriate fines for infection control violations.

Malnutrition and Dehydration

Some residents have difficulty swallowing or need assistance with feeding. They can become malnourished or dehydrated when staff fail to assist, monitor their food and fluid intake, or track their weight. Malnutrition lowers residents’ resistance to infections. Dehydration can cause the urine to become more concentrated, increasing the percentage of bacteria and the risk of infection.

Poorly Controlled Chronic Conditions

Diabetes and other chronic conditions can weaken the kidneys, increase inflammation, and reduce the immune system. Some medications used to control chronic conditions compromise the immune system or increase the risk of yeast infections, which can infect the urinary tract.

Dementia

Nursing home residents with dementia often have difficulty caring for their hygiene needs or recognizing when they need to use the restroom. Once an infection develops, they may be unable to communicate their symptoms to staff. If the primary symptom is mental confusion, staff may not be able to distinguish it from dementia, increasing the risk of the infection going untreated and affecting the kidneys. Nursing homes are responsible for monitoring urinary health in residents with dementia.

The overuse of antibiotics is the primary cause of antibiotic-resistant UTIs in residents. One study found that nursing home residents are four times more likely to develop antibiotic-resistant UTIs than older adults living in their homes. Antibiotic-resistant UTIs can develop into more severe conditions, including life-threatening kidney infections and sepsis.

Why Are UTIs So Common in Nursing Homes?

Urinary tract infections are common in nursing homes because residents typically have multiple risk factors, but nursing homes fail to provide the quality of care necessary to prevent UTIs. Understaffing is one of the key factors that drives nursing home negligence. It puts pressure on nurses and CNAs to rush through care or cut corners to meet the most urgent needs of residents. As a result, the following negligent practices have become common in nursing homes:

Indwelling catheters as a substitute for care
Negligent catheter care
Inadequate and delayed resident hygiene care
Lack of care to prevent or improve incontinence
Inadequate infection control
Overuse of antibiotics
Lack of training in recognizing UTIs
Unsanitary conditions

What Complications Can Arise From Untreated UTIs in Nursing Home Residents?

Untreated UTIs can progress into more serious conditions and cause long-term health effects and death. Here are the most common complications from UTIs:

Kidney infection: The bacteria can travel from the bladder to the kidneys and cause permanent kidney damage.
Narrowing of the urethra in men: This can make urination difficult.
Blood infections. UTIs are responsible for 30-35% of bloodstream infections in adults.
Sepsis: Sepsis is the body’s extreme response to an infection, which can cause organ damage. Advanced sepsis is fatal 40% of the time, and UTIs are the most common cause of sepsis.

The Role of Nursing Home Staff in UTI Prevention and Treatment

Nursing home residents typically have multiple risk factors for UTIs, so staff must prioritize prevention and early treatment by providing the following care at a minimum:

Bowel and bladder incontinence prevention or improvement program
Prompt diaper, linen, and bedding changes for incontinent residents
Prompt assistance in helping residents get to the bathroom when needed
Use of catheters only when medically necessary
Proper sterilization and maintenance of catheters
Consistent hand hygiene
Appropriate PPE use
Sterilization of medical equipment between residents
Sanitary food handling practices
Care planning that addresses each resident’s nutritional needs
Good management and monitoring of chronic conditions, such as diabetes

Nursing home staff are required to provide a level of care that helps each resident achieve their maximum level of functioning and protects their dignity. If your loved one is receiving substandard care, contact Lanzone Morgan, LLP, today for a free consultation.

“Our firm does not represent nursing homes. Our firm only represents residents of nursing homes, former residents, and their families. We are dedicated to representing the consumers and the victims of elder abuse, and we are dedicated to holding nursing homes accountable and making sure that they provide quality care to their residents.”

James Morgan, Founding Partner

Compensation for Injuries from Urinary Tract Infections

If your loved one has suffered nursing home injuries from a urinary tract infection, they and their family may be entitled to compensation for the following damages:

Medical expenses
The cost of transferring to a safer facility
Lost wages
Pain and suffering
Loss of enjoyment of life
Loss of function
Humiliation
Emotional distress

We are one of the leading elder abuse law firms in the United States, with more than 75 years of combined experience. Our compassionate lawyers have recovered over $200 million in settlements and verdicts, including several cases involving complications from UTIs. We charge no upfront fees, and you pay nothing unless we win. Contact us online or call (888) 887-9777 today to start the journey to justice.

Last modified: November 24, 2025

Reviewed by:

Anthony C. Lanzone

Founding Partner

This content has been legally reviewed and approved by nursing home abuse attorney, Anthony Lanzone. Anthony holds notable memberships with professional organizations including the American Association for Justice and Consumer Attorneys of California.

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