Bond’s daughter and “That ’70s Show” star, Tanya Roberts, died on Monday night, at the age of 65, after being hospitalized for a disease that is not related to COVID-19, TODAY confirmed. On Tuesday, Roberts’ longtime partner, Lance O’Brien, said today that she was hospitalized for a urinary tract infection that spread to her kidneys and gallbladder, which played a role in her death.
Urinary tract infections are the most common type of outpatient infection, with 50-60% of adult women developing at least one in their lifetime, according to recent research published in the journal Therapeutic Advances in Urology. However, what is much less common is dying from a urinary tract infection, said TODAY Dr. Kameelah Phillips, OB-GYN at Calla Women’s Health in New York City.
“People don’t die from an uncomplicated ICU,” she explained. “People die because of … complications of a UTI, which is called sepsis. Then the bacteria that cause a bladder infection spread into the bloodstream. And when it spreads into the bloodstream, it can cause what we call multisystem organ failure, and that can lead to death. “
How can an UTI lead to sepsis?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, sepsis is the body’s extreme response to an infection. A simple infection can trigger a “chain reaction” in the body and, without treatment, sepsis can lead to tissue damage, organ failure and death.
Especially with UTI, “the amount of bacteria (can) overwhelm the bladder system, and the bacteria leave the bladder and enter the bloodstream because you have blood vessels running through your bladder,” Phillips explained. The amount of bacteria can make this more likely to occur, as can the type of bacteria. Some types are more likely than others to leave the urinary system, Phillips said.
UTIs that lead to sepsis, a condition called urosepsis, are more common in older adults, Phillips said.
In part, this may be due to the fact that older adults may be asymptomatic and may be untreated more, she explained.
“Older people tend to have weaker immune systems,” Phillips added, and the underlying health conditions. “(This) can also affect your body’s response to treatment … and can make it harder for you to recover from symptoms sometimes,” she said.
“It’s not very common” for an UTI to lead to sepsis, according to Phillips.
“Women should not be afraid that the average ITU will kill them,” she said. “(But) it teaches us that we should not ignore the symptoms of UTI and that we should go to the doctor. If you think you have symptoms, check your urine as opposed to ignoring it or trying to treat it without a prescription. ”
It is important to be aware of UTI symptoms, which may include:
- Pain or burning during urination
- Frequent urination
- Feeling the need to go to the bathroom despite an empty bladder
- Bloody urine
- Pressure or cramps in the groin area
Roberts’ representative initially told the media that he died on Sunday night, but on Monday morning it was found out that Roberts was still alive. Her representative later confirmed that she died on Monday night.
Roberts was best known for his role as Stacey Sutton in the 1985 James Bond film “A View to a Kill” and Midge Pinciotti in “That ’70s Show” between 1998 and 2004.
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