To determine the relationship between clinically diagnosed catheter‐associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) and standardized criteria and to assess microorganism‐level differences in symptom burden in a cohort of catheterized nursing home (NH) residents.

Post hoc analysis of a prospective longitudinal study.

Twelve NHs in southeast Michigan.

NH residents with indwelling urinary catheters (n = 233; 90% white, 52% male, mean age 73.7).

Clinical and demographic data, including CAUTI epidemiology and symptoms, were obtained at study enrollment, 14 days, and monthly thereafter for up to 1 year.

One hundred twenty participants with an indwelling catheter (51%) were prescribed systemic antibiotics for 182 clinically diagnosed CAUTIs. Common signs and symptoms were acute change in mental status (28%), fever (21%), and leukocytosis (13%). Forty percent of clinically diagnosed CAUTIs met Loeb's minimum criteria, 32% met National Health Safety Network (NHSN) criteria, and 50% met Loeb's minimum or NHSN criteria. CAUTIs involving Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus spp. were least likely to meet criteria. CAUTIs involving Klebsiella pneumoniae were most likely to meet Loeb's minimum criteria (odds ratio (OR) = 9.7, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.3–40.3), possibly because of an association with acute change in mental status (OR = 5.9, 95% CI = 1.8–19.4).

Fifty percent of clinically diagnosed CAUTIs met standardized criteria, which represents an improvement in antibiotic prescribing practices. At the microorganism level, exploratory data indicate that symptom burden may differ between microorganisms. Exploration of CAUTI signs and symptoms associated with specific microorganisms may yield beneficial information to refine existing tools to guide appropriate antibiotic treatment.