Among 352 residents of a home for the elderly, who were fully mobile and devoid of most predisposing factors for bacteriuria, 19of men and 27of women had two positive cultures within two months. Positive conversion at one year among men and women negative at entry was 11and 23respectively, negative conversion of bacteriuries 22and 27. Subjects bacteriuric at entry but sterile at six months had a 77(men) and 44(women) reinfection rate at 12 months. The data indicate firstly that a significant proneness to infection does exist in old age, coupled with a lesser trend toward spontaneous cure; the latter is equal to that of younger ages. Thus, prevalence rises steadily in old age. Secondly a previous history of bacteriuria in a subject with currently sterile urine increases his chances of reinfection or recurrence two to seven times compared to those of subjects without past infection.
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