Urinary tract infection and epilepsy: a clinical case report

Abstract

Urinary tract infections in older adults with severe neurological sequelae represent a priority clinical challenge due to the pathophysiological synergy between the infectious process and the decompensation of the central nervous system. Objective: to apply the Nursing Care Process in an elderly patient with a diagnosis of urinary tract infection and epilepsy treated in a hospital in the province of Manabí, through a qualitative, descriptive and cross-sectional methodology, the collection of information included anamnesis, cephalocaudal physical examination, review of the medical history, laboratory tests and blood gases. Four diagnoses were established as results obtained from the 84-year-old male patient with a history of head trauma, craniotomy, tracheostomy and gastrostomy, who was admitted with severe hypertension, bradycardia, hyperthermia and muscle rigidity due to neurological decompensation secondary to urinary infection: risk of injury, deterioration of physical mobility, hyperthermia and self-care deficit (bathing/hygiene). As a conclusion to the above, the administration of antibiotic therapy with meropenem, anticonvulsant, in this case, levetiracetam, antipyretics, hemodynamic management and specialized nursing care was sent, which allows the control of fever, stabilization of vital signs and skin integrity.