An Epidemiological Survey of Urinary Tract Infections among Outpatients in Northern Norway

Urinary tract infections (UTI) in all outpatients from several municipalities in Northern Norway were examined during 1 year. Comparatively high frequencies of UTI were found among women of all ages, among people >60 years of both sexes, in coastline municipalities, and during the fall and winter. About 70% of all UTI were caused by Escherichia coli, more in women than in men. Other gram-negative enterobacteria (Klebsiella, Proteus) and gram-positive cocci (Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staph, saprophyticus, Staph, aureus, Streptococcus faecalis) caused the majority of remaining infections. Relatively more gram-positive cocci (except Staph, saprophyticus) than gram-negative enterobacteria were from males. Patients with gram-positive cocci, except Strep. faecalis, were generally younger than those with gram-negative enterobacteria.