Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of the most common and preventable infections in long-term care facilities. When staff fail to provide proper hygiene, hydration, or timely medical treatment, these infections can quickly become life-threatening. Our nursing home UTI lawyer team advocates for residents who suffer from neglect that leads to painful and dangerous UTIs.
Our firm has extensive experience exposing negligent practices in nursing homes nationwide and holding facilities accountable. At Nursing Home Law Center, we are dedicated to protecting vulnerable residents and fighting for the compensation and dignity they deserve.
A urinary tract infection (UTI) is a bacterial infection of the urinary system. UTIs may be cystitis, urethritis, or pyelonephritis. Cystitis bladder infections affect the urethra and bladder, whereas urethritis infections affect the bladder and urethra. A pyelonephritis infection affects the kidneys through the urinary tract.
Elderly residents in nursing homes are at an increased risk of urinary tract infections due to a number of factors, including age-related changes and underlying medical conditions.
Older adults may have weakened immune systems, which makes bacteria more likely. They may also have decreased bladder capacity and less capability of completely emptying the bladder, contributing to a higher risk of urinary tract infections.
Older adults are also more likely to have underlying medical conditions, which can lead to UTIs. Diabetes and dementia can weaken the urinary tract and increase the chance of recurrent UTIs.
Seniors with limited mobility may also make fewer trips to the bathroom, which can be one of the risk factors for developing UTIs. Adults with Parkinson’s Disease may have difficulty with urinary retention or urinary incontinence, both of which can lead to more UTIs.
Any medical condition that weakens the immune system can lead to an infection, such as a UTI, bladder infection, or kidney infection. Urinary tract infections can also come from an increased risk of catheter use in older adults.
Introducing any external object, such as a catheter, can allow bacteria to enter the urinary tract. Proper hygiene, cleaning, and disinfecting of catheters are crucial in preventing UTIs in older adults.
While the anatomical differences between men and women may lead to varying symptoms, both males and females are at risk of UTIs.
Postmenopausal women are at an increased risk of UTIs, especially if they have had a prior UTI. Women may notice more frequent urination and more UTIs, which can sometimes be prevented with vaginal estrogen medications. Men may also suffer from more UTIs due to an enlarged prostate or prostatic hypertrophy, especially in men who use catheters.
Recognizing the most common symptoms of UTIs can help ensure that older adults are treated promptly to prevent their condition from worsening.
Here are a few classic symptoms of UTIs:
Less common, but common among older adults, symptoms of UTIs include the following:
It’s not clear why some older adults experience the above symptoms or what makes delirium occur, but scientific evidence suggests that it may be due to weaker blood vessels. For this reason, normal aging health is crucial for nursing home residents to help prevent these symptoms.
Whether experiencing classic UTI or other symptoms, nursing home residents should receive prompt treatment. Classic UTIs can mimic other medical conditions. An untreated UTI can also lead to severe symptoms. The urinary tract includes various components, each of which is at risk of serious infections.
Failing to treat UTIs in older adults can be dangerous. If the infection spreads, it may affect the patient’s bladder or kidneys. Some older adults may also notice more severe symptoms, such as sepsis, kidney damage, or delirium/cognitive decline.
In severe cases of urinary tract infections, older adults may suffer more serious injuries, some of which require hospitalization. Left untreated, UTIs in older adults can even lead to death.
Prevention is key when dealing with UTIs in older adults in nursing homes. Here are a few strategies that nursing homes should be implementing to prevent UTIs.
Poor hygiene increases the chance of bacteria entering the urinary tract. Encouraging hand washing and regular bathing can help prevent UTIs and maintain infection control. Well-trained staff assisting older adults when using the toilet is crucial to preventing UTIs. Ensuring residents have easy access to incontinence pads and briefs is also important.
Many health conditions require older adults to use a urinary catheter. Urinary catheters should be inserted correctly and properly sanitized before use. Timely removal of catheters is also necessary to prevent urinary symptoms.
Proper hydration and nutrition help balance bacteria in the urinary tract, effectively preventing UTIs. Sufficient hydration also helps seniors empty their bladders more frequently, which can help prevent a UTI.
Early detection allows seniors to receive the treatment they need for a urinary tract infection. Nursing home staff should regularly monitor residents for the symptoms of a UTI and seek medical care when necessary. Many providers will prescribe antibiotics, which help clear the urinary tract. Intravenous antibiotics may be needed for some residents.
Treating asymptomatic bacteriuria may be more difficult since many residents won’t show symptoms. Additionally, some medical providers may be hesitant to prescribe antibiotics due to the risk of antibiotic resistance.
However, nursing home patients should receive regular medical evaluations to help prevent infection. A urine culture or other tests can also help detect the bacteria causing the UTI, allowing the medical provider to prescribe the right medicine.
UTIs are commonly caused by Escherichia Coli (E-Coli) but can also arise from other organisms or cause asymptomatic bacteriuria.
Older adults are at an increased risk of UTIs. However, sometimes, negligence can lead to more frequent UTIs.
A nursing home that fails to prevent or treat UTIs may be considered negligent. The development of a UTI could indicate that staff aren’t properly assisting or monitoring residents. Failing to administer antibiotics could also worsen symptoms and be negligent.
A lack of medical care or personal hygienic policies are just a few risk factors for UTIs. If you or your loved one developed a UTI following nursing home negligence, you may be eligible for a lawsuit. Nursing home negligence lawsuits hold the staff accountable.
Filing a lawsuit for frequent or recurring UTIs allows injured victims to recover medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. UTIs may be one of the most commonly diagnosed infections among residents, but that doesn’t remove liability.
According to Law.com’s VerdictSearch, payouts for nursing home neglect cases involving urinary tract infections range from $114,510 to $200,000,000. The average payout is $21,861,804, while the median recovery is $1,758,230.
Several factors can influence the value of a nursing home UTI lawsuit, including:
Michelle Cohen, 61, died from complications of a urinary tract infection that developed during her stay at a rehabilitation facility. Her son, representing her estate, alleged that staff failed to follow a physician’s order for a urological evaluation and ignored the warning signs of a second infection, including discolored urine and mental confusion.
Cohen was hospitalized when her condition deteriorated and later died from sepsis and organ failure. The defense claimed her death resulted from a separate lung infection. The jury found the facility’s staff liable and awarded $1,758,230, including $1.75 million for her son’s loss and $8,230 in funeral expenses.
Enrique Lozoya, 76, developed a urinary tract infection following hip surgery, which progressed to urosepsis and septic shock. He was hospitalized for two weeks and required extended physical therapy. Lozoya claimed staff failed to recognize early signs of infection—such as painful urination, elevated pulse, and low blood pressure—and delayed contacting a physician.
His medical experts argued that earlier intervention would have prevented sepsis and hospitalization. The defense countered that intervention wasn’t necessary sooner and that the infection didn’t prolong his recovery. The jury found that Lozoya’s residential rights were violated and awarded $114,510.62 in medical costs and pain and suffering.
Proving that your family member’s UTI was caused by negligence isn’t always easy. Nursing homes often have large legal teams available and may attempt to transfer blame to underlying medical conditions. If you or a loved one suffered a urinary tract infection due to nursing home negligence, it may be worth discussing your case with a lawyer.
Here are a few ways that a nursing home negligence lawyer can help your case.
Our lawyers have in-depth investigation skills, which can make it easier to find out what happened. The nursing home’s staff could be to blame if they failed to practice hygienic bathroom standards or never prescribed antibiotics despite an infection. Failing to order a urine culture or provide incontinence briefs to those who need them could also be negligence.
However, determining liability requires sufficient proof. A lawyer will help you collect evidence for a strong case, including medical records and witness statements.
State laws also require proof of negligence, which may also include medical records. Expert witnesses can also be valuable in a nursing home negligence lawsuit. An expert witness provides insight into the proper care of a nursing home resident, which can then be compared against the care they received.
The Nursing Home Law Center has specialized experience in proving negligence. We work closely with the necessary resources to determine liability and establish negligence.
In addition to proving negligence, our legal team uses our expert negotiating skills to ensure a fair settlement. If the negligent nursing home is unwilling to offer a fair settlement, our lawyers are ready to represent your case in trial.
A nursing home lawyer can also help you recover fair compensation. While UTIs may be a common infection among the older age group, that doesn’t justify nursing home negligence.
We work hard to recover the funds our clients need to move on from nursing home negligence. Whether your loved one suffered a fungal infection from the improper use of a catheter or the nursing home staff failed to monitor a patient with Alzheimer’s Disease regarding personal hygiene, our lawyers are here to help.
UTIs may be common in older adults, but can sometimes be caused by negligence. Additionally, residents who are at a higher risk of UTIs, including postmenopausal women or men with a prolapsed bladder, should receive extra monitoring to prevent an infection. Contact the Nursing Home Law Center today.