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Totally common. Does your lady wear incontinence underwear? These tend to exacerbate things because it keeps all the moisture in. Also just because when we age, things don't work as well. I just learned yesterday from the nurse at my MIL's facility that the loss of estrogen causes not only the vagina to become drier, but also the urethra and this means it doesn't "close" properly after she urinates, also adding the development of UTIs. They administer Premerin, an estrogen cream to help with this. The nurse also just this week approved a new supplement, D-Mannose, as a preventative. It's basically a concentrated form of what's in cranberry juice, since seniors can only drink so much and there's tons of sugar in cranberry juice. It's very normal to get one UTI after another, like my MIL does. I'm hoping the D-Mannose will give her some relief. If it's at all possible, can your lady be in bed with an incontinence pad and without any undies on, just so the air can circulate "down there"? It's like wearing pampers all the time and also not good for the skin, so exposure to air is helpful whenever possible. Good luck!
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againx100 Aug 2019
There is lots of sugar in cranberry "cocktail". If you get just plain cranberry concentrate, not so bad.
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As an old nurse I am pretty much a western medicine gal who doesn't believe in supplements and miracle natural cures, but the one thing I do believe in is D-Mannose, either capsule or powder form. I have used for a decade without a single bladder infection whereas theretofore I was getting upward of four per year with some going into kidney, one with pyelonephritis and shock. It works much like cranberries but no acid and better and is often now recommended by urologists; keeps bacteria from adhereing to the bladder wall. I get mine on Amazon, Source Natural capsules, 120 (take once daily) for 30.00 so well worth a try and pretty cheap at that. I have recommended to two women I know with great results.
There are many reasons elderly women get constant bladder infections, but the urethra in a woman is very short, as compared to a man, and any bacteria enters with great ease. The tissues preventing entry of bacteria thin greatly after menopause. Some women get fewer infections with hormone creams recommended by doctors, applied directly to the area. Many do not.
UTIs are very resistant at this point and about a month ago the New York Times did a front page Sunday edition article about their resistance and the extreme danger of that.
Wishing you great good luck going forward. (capsules are large if you try D-Mannose and I recommend opening and mixing in food as they are otherwise a choke hazard for young and old.
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Countrymouse Aug 2019
That is *really* interesting. You've sent me off to look it up, and basically it sounds as though (this is me guessing) it does to uti pathogens what the sugar in honey does to microbes - i.e. explodes them. They don't stand a chance.

And definitely harmless. How can anyone lose? I'll be telling everyone to check with their doctor then give it a go.
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When you’re helping with toileting are you sure to wipe the “front to the front” and the “back to the back”? It’s very important not to let any bacteria from the back get into the front.
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hattygirl Aug 2019
yes very careful ive asked family to also get the sprayer you can attach to toilet making it a kinda bidet? lol. not sure if i spelt that right.but i was affraid maybe the cheap wipes daughter buys were irritating her and thought just plain water would be better
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After my mom had sepsis which nearly landed her in the ICU after recurring UTIs
I’ve had her on liquid cystex not the pills which are for pain relief

it’s a d-mannose supplement with prebiotics and available at the drug store

also vigilant with changing and cleaning as she’s been immobile for 2 years
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yea she wears a pull up just incase she doesnt make it to bathroom but shes not incontinent.sometimes she has an accident before she wakes up so ive been trying to get up before her to catch it.and she already gets vaginal premarin 3 times a week for a pesi ring....im wondering if that pesi ring needs to be changed more often.
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DMannose gives amazing  prevention for e coli urine infections. Ive seen it prolong long  intervals between utis in elderly ,reduce anitbioitc use prevent  hospitalisation  and also help with some resistant strains which is an ever increasing problem. SweetCures.com have lots of information on it.
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There is also dmannose powder if the tablets as the tablets large as someone said
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What are the results of urine cultures?. E. coli? MERSA? MERSA can, but not always, colonize & cause recurrent UTI. If patient is immunocompromised this can result in recurrent UTI. Elderly in general do not have a strong immune system. This is just an age related fact. Sux to get old. Of course, good ol hygiene comes into play. My mom has the same problem.
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