The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio is associated with bacteremia in older adults visiting the emergency department with urinary tract infections

Purpose We evaluated the clinical features of older adults visiting the emergency department (ED) with urinary tract infections (UTIs), and the diagnostic utility of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in terms of identifying bacteremia. Methods In total, 479 older adults admitted with UTIs via the ED between January 2010 and December 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. We recorded age, sex, comorbidities, body temperature, clinical findings, and initial laboratory results, including the NLR. Results A UTI with bacteremia was identified in 186 (38.8%) older adults. Bacteremia was associated with a longer hospital stay (median 10 vs. 8 days, p