A 2018 study estimated that infection triggers roughly half of all cases of delirium in seniors. As for the reason why, scientists suspect a UTI triggers inflammation that can disrupt how our neurons function. And UTIs are the second-most-common type of infection in adults aged 65 and over at hospitals and community-living centers (with lung infections ranked No. 1). What is Creator’s perspective about the frequency of viral vs. bacterial causation?

We would say that the frequency of viral versus bacterial causation is about 60:40 viruses versus bacteria, respectively. There can be both present, but the fact bacteria are cultured from the urine does not mean they are the major cause of the infection and symptoms that are most concerning. They can be a secondary infection, as a kind of overlay, given that they are usually manageable using available antimicrobial adjuncts, but the viruses are more well-entrenched usually and not easily eradicated, and that is the tip-off shown by those with chronic UTIs that never go away despite all the attempts at treatment.