Designates November 21 of each year as "Urinary Tract Infection Awareness Day" in NJ.

SJR96

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

No. 96

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED MARCH 5, 2026

Sponsored by:

MSenator� 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.