Former President Bill Clinton is currently hospitalized at the University of California Irvine Medical Center's intensive care unit for a urinary tract infection that spread to his bloodstream, CNN reports.
"He was admitted to the ICU for close monitoring and administered IV antibiotics and fluids. He remains at the hospital for continuous monitoring," according to a joint statement Thursday evening from Dr. Alpesh Amin, chair of medicine at UC Irvine Medical Center, and Dr. Lisa Bardack, Clinton's primary physician. Also, his medical team said that he is in the ICU for privacy and safety, not because he needs intensive care.
According to reports, Clinton has vastly improved. He’s been up and walking around talking to family and staff.
"After two days of treatment, his white blood cell count is trending down and he is responding to antibiotics well," the doctors said. "We hope to have him go home soon."
Since leaving the White House after serving two terms in office, Clinton has faced a number of health challenges. Back in 2004, after experiencing prolonged chest pains and shortness of breath, he underwent quadruple bypass surgery. He had a partially collapsed lung repaired in 2005; and in 2010, he had a pair of stents implanted in a coronary artery.
Clinton's spokesman Angel Urena said Thursday that the former President is "on the mend" and "in good spirits."
"On Tuesday evening, President Clinton was admitted to UCI Medical Center to receive treatment for a non-Covid-related infection. He is on the mend, in good spirits, and is incredibly thankful to the doctors, nurses, and staff providing him with excellent care," Urena said.
