Sponsored by:
Senator ANGELA V. MCKNIGHT
District 31 (Hudson)
SYNOPSIS
Designates November 21 of each year as Urinary Tract Infection Awareness Day in NJ.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Joint Resolution designating November 21 of each year as Urinary Tract Infection Awareness Day in New Jersey.
Whereas, A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection in any part of the urinary system; and
Whereas, The urinary tract system includes the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra; and
Whereas, Most infections involve the lower urinary tract, which includes the bladder and the urethra; and
Whereas, The urinary tract is designed to keep out bacteria; and
Whereas, UTIs typically occur when bacteria enter the urinary tract through the urethra and begin to spread in the bladder; and
Whereas, Health care providers normally treat urinary tract infections with a short course of antibiotics; and
Whereas, Diagnostic and treatment plans are determined based on the location of the UTI and underlying medical conditions of a patient, such as diabetes; and
Whereas, Complicated UTIs involve individuals that suffer from underlying medical conditions or various anatomic abnormalities that make them prone to infection; and
Whereas, Uncomplicated UTIs are infections that develop in healthy men or women with completely normal genitourinary systems; and
Whereas UTIs account for over 6 million patient visits to physicians per year in the United States; approximately 20 percent of those visits are to the emergency department; and
Whereas, In older adults, UTIs may be overlooked or mistaken for other conditions; and
Whereas, Women are at a greater risk of developing a UTI when compared to men; and
Whereas, Approximately 25 to 40 percent of women in the United States aged 20 to 40 years have had a UTI; and
Whereas, In older adults, urinary tract infections can lead to sudden confusion, commonly referred to as delirium; and
Whereas, If an older adult has a sudden and unexplained change in their behavior, such as increased confusion, agitation, or withdrawal, this may be because of a UTI; and
Whereas, UTI is one of the most commonly diagnosed infections in older adults; and
Whereas, If a UTI is limited to the bladder it can be painful and uncomfortable; and
Whereas, Serious health problems can result if a UTI spreads to the kidneys; and
Whereas, UTIs do not always cause symptoms but when symptoms do arise they may include a strong urge to urinate that does not go away, a burning feeling when urinating, urinating often, passing small amount of urine, urine that looks cloudy, and strong-smelling urine; and
Whereas, As the most frequently diagnosed infection in long-term care residents, UTIs account for over a third of all nursing home-associated infections; and
Whereas, UTIs are the second most commonly diagnosed infections among hospitalized patients and adults over 65 living in the community; and
Whereas, To aid clinicians in diagnosing symptomatic UTIs, several guidelines have been published standardizing definitions for symptomatic UTI in long-term care facilities; and
Whereas, UTI infections that go untreated can spread from the bladder to the kidneys and ultimately lead to a life threatening infection known as sepsis; and
Whereas, The best way to prevent a UTI is to urinate every few hours, empty ones bladder completely, drink plenty of water, and practice good genital and urinary hygiene; and
Whereas, Designating November 21 as Urinary Tract Infection Awareness Day would provide New Jerseyans with an annual reminder on the negative health effects that UTIs have on New Jerseyans throughout the State; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. November 21 of each year shall be designated as Urinary Tract Infection Awareness Day in New Jersey to bring awareness to urinary tract infections and its negative health effect on New Jerseyans throughout the State.
2. The Governor is respectfully requested to annually issue a proclamation recognizing Urinary Tract Infection Awareness Day in New Jersey, and calling upon public officials and the citizens of this State to observe the month with appropriate activities and programs.
3. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This resolution designates November 21 of each year as Urinary Tract Infection Awareness Day in New Jersey. A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection in any part of the urinary system. The urinary tract system includes the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. UTIs typically occur when bacteria enters the urinary tract through the urethra and begin to spread in the bladder. In older adults, UTIs may be overlooked or mistaken for other conditions. UTIs can cause sudden confusion, also known as delirium, in older adults. If an older adult has a sudden and unexplained change in their behavior, such as increased confusion, agitation, or withdrawal, this may be because of a UTI. Formulation of a successful diagnostic and treatment plan is based on determining the location of the UTI and identifying underlying physical impairments of the patient, such as diabetes.
UTIs do not always cause symptoms, but when symptoms do arise they may include a strong urge to urinate that does not go away, a burning feeling when urinating, urinating often, passing small amount of urine, urine that looks cloudy, and strong-smelling urine. UTI infections that go untreated can spread from the bladder to the kidneys and ultimately lead to a life threatening infection known as sepsis. The best way to prevent a UTI is to urinate every few hours, empty ones bladder completely, drink plenty of water, and practice good genital and urinary hygiene. Designating November 21 of each year as Urinary Tract Infection Awareness Day would provide New Jerseyans with an annual reminder on the negative health effects that UTIs have on the New Jerseyans across the State.