Urinary Tract Infections

The composition of the community of bacteria that colonize the human urinary tract, known as the urinary microbiome, influences urinary health including the development of urinary tract infection. Older adults are increased risk for the development of urinary tract infection and are frequently treated with antibiotics for this indication. In some older adults, the presence of urinary pathogens can be detected without symptoms, a condition known as asymptomatic bacteriuria, which does not benefit from antibiotic treatment. PMD members are undertaking an investigation of older adults with and without urinary symptoms and performing metagenomic sequencing on urine samples to understand the communities of bacteria that are present in these two conditions with the aim of developing superior diagnostics for urinary tract infection in older adults.