People over 50 being woken up in the middle of the night due to infection
Health experts have issued a warning as an infection that wakes you up in the middle of the night is more dangerous to people over the age of 50. In an update, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) explained that older people are more likely to become hospitalised due to a urinary tract infection (UTI).
UTIs occur when bacteria enter the urinary system including the urethra, bladder or kidneys. While most lower UTIs cause 'mild discomfort' and go away on their own or with antibiotics, some can progress to more serious infections.
This can lead to including upper UTIs affecting the kidneys, leading to bloodstream infections and sepsis. Data from the Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) database showed that between the 2023 and 2023 financial year there were nearly 200,000 UTI-related patients in England. This includes infections acquired in both community and hospital settings.
Those admissions resulted in 1.2 million bed days, averaging six bed days per infection, the UKHSA said. The findings highlighted the disproportionate impact of UTIs on older people and women.
According to the data, 52.7 per cent of admissions were patients aged over 70 and 61.8 per cent were female. While women were nearly five times more likely to require hospital treatment for a UTI in people under 50 years old (24.7 per cent female compared to 5.3 per cent male), this levelled out in age groups over 50 (37.1 per cent female compared to 32.9 per cent male).
The UKHSA noted: 'This highlights the need for men over 50 to also pay early attention to urinary symptoms and seek treatment that may prevent hospitalisation.' Hospitalisations for UTIs were at their lowest in 2020 to 2021 – possibly influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic.
But since then, admissions have increased, climbing by nine per cent in 2023 to 2024 compared to the previous year. The UKHSA stated that detecting and treating a UTI early is 'important'.
Symptoms
Some of the early symptoms of UTI include:
Needing to urinate more frequently or urgently than usual
Passing lots of urine at night
Pain or a burning sensation when urinating
Having cloudy-looking urine
New pain in the lower tummy
Severe kidney pain or pain in the lower back
Blood in the urine
For some people it can include changes in behaviour, such as acting agitated or confused
Dr Colin Brown, deputy director at UKHSA responsible for antibiotic resistance, warned that people over the age of 50 are most vulnerable to the risks of UTIs. He said: 'Urinary Tract Infections are a major cause of hospitalisations in this country, but many could be prevented.
'We know that the most serious consequences that come from UTIs are more common in people over the age of 50 so we are reminding this group in particular to be aware of the ways they can help reduce their risk of getting poorly. Drinking enough fluids is so important, as well as avoiding holding onto pee.
'If you have frequent UTIs, talk to your healthcare provider about treatments that may help prevent further infections. If you have a UTI and your symptoms get worse, please call your GP or 111, or go to your nearest A&E to seek assistance as UTIs can develop into more serious, life-threatening infections.
'Preventing UTIs is also important in our fight against antibiotic resistance as they are often treated with antibiotics, which drives resistance in bacteria. Reducing the number of UTI infections means bacteria has less chance to develop this resistance, helping to keep antibiotics working for longer.'
Lower your risk
People can reduce their risk of catching a UTI in the first place by:
Drinking enough fluids regularly, especially in hot weather – more trips to the toilet may be needed, but that shouldn't stop you drinking
Avoiding holding pee - go to the toilet as soon as possible when you need to
Washing, or shower daily where possible especially if you suffer from incontinence keep the genital area clean and dry, and check and change leakage of urine pads often
Wiping from front to back after using the toilet to prevent bacteria from spreading
Washing genitals before and after sex
Talking to your healthcare professional if you have frequent UTIs, as they may be able to suggest treatments that could help
If you experience UTI symptoms you should speak to a pharmacist or your GP.
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