My father is 85 years old. 3 years ago a vertabra fractured due to metastasized prostate cancer ( good news, though, on that - his PSA level has been normal since undergoing hormone shots every six months). Although he can move his lower body he can no longer bear weight has been wheelchair bound and has had an indwelling Foley catheter since the cancer was discovered. He is now, of course, experiencing chronic UTIs and his creatinine level has risen dramatically with the last course of antibiotics (he is developing some resistance to antibiotic treatment). What might be the next steps to control the UTIs without putting his kidneys at elevated risk?
Good Day, and thank you for being with Chat Doctor ! Chronic catheterization is always a major risk factor for a UTI. It would be better to remove the catheter and start clean intermittent catheterization (CIC). This would decrease the risk for infection. Also, there is a BIG difference between bacterial colonization and bacterial infection (UTI). Colonization means that bacteria is in the bladder, catheter and urine bag but does not cause infection and does not warrant treatment while UTI would cause symptoms of urination like suprapubic pain, fever etc. If we always treat the bacteria in colonization then we end up developing multi Chat Doctor.  I hope I have succeeded in providing the information you were looking for. Please feel free to write back to me for any further clarifications at