Prevention and Treatment Needed for UTIs in Nursing Homes: Although often preventable, urinary tract infections are among the more common nursing home infections for Pennsylvania long-term care residents.

According to an article by Patient Safety, the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Reporting System found an increase in the rate of catheter-associated urinary tract infections (UTIs) in Pennsylvania long-term care facilities between 2016 and 2020, despite reports indicating a downtrend in catheter use during that timeframe. With its findings, the epidemiological study aims to reduce risks for patients prone to nursing home infections such as UTIs and also to promote better practices toward preventing, identifying, and treating them. Urinary tract infections are common occurrences in nursing homes. Like many nursing home infections, UTIs are usually preventable when the right measures are taken; however, due to various factors including nursing home neglect, UTIs do occur among elderly patients in nursing homes. Without swift intervention, a UTI can develop into a serious illness that may have irreversible, or even fatal, results.

Urinary tract infections result from the presence within the system of bacteria that infects and inflames the kidneys, bladder, ureters, and urethra. According to the National Library of Medicine UTIs are the second most frequent nursing home infection; these bacterial infections amount to the most common cause of hospitalization. The increased prevalence of urinary tract infections in nursing homes is due to a number of patient factors, including the following:

• Immune systems may be weakened specifically due to illness or cancer treatments, or generally due to age
• Estrogen loss in senior women impacts protective vaginal bacterial colonization
• Prostate issues in older men leads to urinary issues that trap bacteria
• Dehydration in nursing home patients results in the concentration of bacteria in urine
• Catheter use can lead to the introduction of bacteria into the urethra

The risk factors for nursing home urinary tract infections demand vigilance from nursing home care workers.  Mishandling a catheter, disregarding sanitation habits, or otherwise not taking the necessary special care to prevent UTIs for at-risk residents is an example of nursing home neglect. When nursing home urinary tract infections do occur, it is imperative that they are diagnosed early and treated promptly. UTIs that go undetected, whether because of error or because of nursing home neglect, not only leave elderly residents ill and in a lot of pain, but also potentially allow the infection to develop into a more serious illness.

With prevention and treatment needed for UTIs in nursing homes, workers should be watchful of their residents for the signs of a UTI, which might include:

• A powerful urge to urinate with little to no success
• A burning sensation when urinating
• Cloudy, strong-smelling urine
• Any indication of blood in the urine
• Pain in the pelvis

If residents have comorbidities with symptoms that could mask UTI symptoms, or if they have cognitive illnesses that may prevent them from explaining their symptoms, it could be more difficult to recognize the occurrence of a UTI. Undetected nursing home urinary tract infections might advance into the kidneys, at which point other more severe and perilous symptoms may occur, including nausea and vomiting, fever and chills, and pronounced back pain.

Complications stemming from nursing home urinary tract infections can include permanent kidney damage, recurrent infections, the narrowing of the urethra (in males), and sepsis. Sepsis is the body’s reaction to an infection, wherein chemicals are released into the bloodstream, which can lead to organ damage, a perilous drop in blood pressure, and even death from septic shock. It is vital that nursing homes avoid allowing such a drastic development of this illness. With the proper diagnoses and intervention, UTIs can be resolved in as short a time as two days with the proper antibiotics; however, when nursing home neglect occurs, elderly nursing home residents may be left to endure an abrupt change in health.

Working to Protect Your Loved One From Neglect

Pennsylvania and New Jersey nursing homes are required to meet specific health and safety requirements and to provide such care as to secure the physical, mental, and psycho/social well-being of their residents. Should you have concerns about a Philadelphia/PA or NJ nursing home, or if you suspect neglect, abuse, or fraud has occurred at the Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, or New Jersey nursing home where your loved one lives, please contact nursing home abuse attorney Brian P. Murphy to discover your legal rights and options.

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Data Reveals Deadliness of Pandemic in PA Veterans Homes:

Recently published data shows that the coronavirus pandemic took the lives of at least 40 military veterans in Pennsylvania VA nursing homes, says an article on WITF.org. Due to privacy reasons, the exact number of veteran nursing home deaths from COVID remains unknown.

As per the law passed nearly a year ago directing the Department of Veterans Affairs to publish COVID-19 data regarding the impact of the pandemic in its nursing homes, recent published data by the VA reveals case numbers and deaths across the nation between the months of May 2020 and August 2021. In Pennsylvania within that timeframe, over 300 veteran residents were infected with COVID-19 across the six VA homes in the state; at least 40 of these elderly veterans died. Additionally, records indicate that 500 Pennsylvania VA nursing home workers also contracted COVID-19.

In nearly every one of the VA homes, the number of nursing home worker cases exceeded the number of resident infections—at the Hollidaysburg Veterans Home in Blair County, for example, there were 157 staff member cases versus 61 elderly veterans who got COVID-19; however, while there were zero VA staff deaths in Pennsylvania, 37 veteran deaths from COVID were confirmed in two of the state’s VA homes (19 at Hollidaysburg). Between one and 10 veterans died in each of the four other VA homes in Pennsylvania, bringing the number of deaths from COVID to at least 40.

Details regarding what measures were taken by PA veteran nursing home workers to prevent the virus from spreading to residents remain unknown, as does information regarding the timeframe of deaths. The article does note that, upon the wide availability of vaccines for elderly Americans in January, many VA residents were vaccinated in Pennsylvania homes.

Data reveals deadliness of pandemic in PA veterans homes and nationwide, 1,498 veteran residents and 54 VA staff died.

The breakdown of the COVID-19 case and death data is as follows:

• Southwestern Veterans’ Center: 76 staff COVID infections; 26 resident COVID infections; 1-10 resident deaths
• Hollidaysburg Veterans Home: 157 staff COVID infections; 61 resident COVID infections; 19 resident deaths
• Southeastern Pennsylvania Veterans’ Center: 78 staff COVID infections; 37 resident COVID infections; 1-10 resident deaths
• Delaware Valley Veterans’ Home: 76 staff COVID infections; 51 resident COVID infections; 1-10 resident deaths
• Gino J. Merli Veterans’ Center: 65 staff COVID infections; 68 resident COVID infections; 18 resident deaths
• Pennsylvania Soldiers’ & Sailors’ Home: 65 staff COVID infections; 63 resident COVID infections; 1-10 resident deaths

Working to Keep Your Loved One Safe

Determining the quality and safety of the Philadelphia/PA or NJ nursing home where your loved one lives is essential. Pennsylvania and New Jersey nursing homes are required to meet health and safety standards requirements and to ensure the physical, mental, and psycho/social well-being of their residents. To meet these standards, the Philadelphia/PA or NJ nursing home where your loved one lives must be equipped to avoid the kind of substandard care that amounts to nursing home neglect or abuse. Should you have concerns about the quality of care in a Pennsylvania or New Jersey nursing home, or if you suspect neglect, abuse, or fraud has occurred at the Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, or New Jersey nursing home where your loved one lives, please contact nursing home abuse attorney Brian P. Murphy to discover your legal rights and options.

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