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 greater than 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.