Nosocomial urinary tract infections.

Hospital-acquired urinary tract infections, which account for approximately 40 percent of all nosocomial infections, often result in serious complications and ultimately lead to rising hospital costs. To combat the high incidence of nosocomial urinary tract infections, surveillance and control programs must be developed and carefully maintained by hospitals. When urinary tract infections cannot be prevented, empiric therapy with broad-spectrum antibiotics effective against beta-lactamase-producing bacteria should begin immediately.