Expert: Paula Damgaard - 9/16/2006

Question
My grandma just had an episode where she kinda went into a coma. They said her urine was nothing put puss and that she was septic. They grew it in the lab and it came back as E. Coli? What is this caused from?  Is this from neglect? She lives in a nursing home and is in her last stage of Alzheimers. She has to eat pured food? Explain to me how this happend? Thank you so much! amanda

Answer
Dear Amanda, E. Coli is a common bacteria that grows in our intestinal tracts.  Because she is in the end stages I am going to guess that she is wearing diapers at this point.  So everytime she soils herself the E Coli is sitting there.  There isn't much space between the anus and the urethra so it is very easy for the bacteria to travel.  I don't know if she is left in the soiled diapers for a long period or not, but I doubt that it really matters as from what I said before.  

Also at the end stages of the disease, people have a decreased immune system as well and it is harder for them to fight these kinds of infections.  

One thing you should know is that she wasn't in pain.  Women over the age of 65 typically have urinary tract infections and don't even know it.  I hope this helps you.  Paula