Bond girl and “That ’70s Show” star Tanya Roberts died Monday night at age 65 after being hospitalized for a non-COVID-19-related illness, confirmed today. On Tuesday, Roberts’ longtime partner Lance O’Brien said today she had been hospitalized for a urinary tract infection that spread to her kidneys and gallbladder, which played a major 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. less common, however, is dying from a urinary tract infection, Dr. Kameelah Phillips, a gynecologist at Calla Women’s Health in New York City, said today.
“People don’t die because of an uncomplicated ITU,” he explained. “People die from … complications from an UTI, called sepsis. That’s when 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 ITU generate sepsis?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, sepsis is the body’s extreme response to an infection. A simple infection can cause a “chain reaction” in the body, and without treatment, sepsis can cause tissue damage, organ failure, and death.
With UTIs in particular, “the amount of bacteria (can) overflow the bladder system and the bacteria leave the bladder and enter the bloodstream because you have blood vessels running through the bladder,” Phillips explained. The amount of bacteria can make it more likely to occur, as well as 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 because older adults may be asymptomatic and not be treated for longer, he explained.
“Older people tend to have weaker immune systems,” Phillips added, and the underlying health conditions. “(This) can also affect the body’s response to treatment … and hinder the recovery of symptoms at times,” he said.
According to Phillips, “it is not very common” for an ITU to cause sepsis.
“Women should not be afraid that their average ITU will kill them,” she stressed. “(But) it teaches us that we shouldn’t ignore the symptoms of UTI and that we should go to the doctor. If you think you have symptoms, check your urine instead of just ignoring it or treating it without a prescription.” .
It is important to be aware of the symptoms of UTI, which may include:
- Pain or burning when urinating
- Frequent urination
- Feeling the need to go to the bathroom despite the empty bladder
- Bloody urine
- Pressure or cramps in the groin
Roberts’ representative initially told the media that she had died on Sunday night, but on Monday morning it was revealed that Roberts was still alive. His representative later confirmed he died Monday night.
Roberts was best known for playing 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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