HOSPITAL says Katharine Hepburn recovering from urinary tract infection

<br>HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) _ Four-time Academy Award winner Katharine Hepburn was responding well to antibiotics for a urinary tract infection and should be released this weekend, hospital officials said

Saturday, July 21st 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) _ Four-time Academy Award winner Katharine Hepburn was responding well to antibiotics for a urinary tract infection and should be released this weekend, hospital officials said Friday.

``The news is good,'' Hartford Hospital spokesman James Battaglio said. ``She's doing much better today.''

The 94-year-old actress was admitted to the hospital Wednesday and had two days of testing. Her past health problems include arthritis, pneumonia and Parkinson's-like tremors.

``Kate is 94, and boy she's a tough 94,'' her 88-year-old brother, Dr. Robert Hepburn, told WVIT-TV. ``She has been tough all through her career _ remarkable vitality.''

During her 60-year career, Hepburn was nominated for a record-tying 12 Academy Awards and won for ``Morning Glory,'' 1933; ``Guess Who's Coming to Dinner,'' 1967; ``A Lion in Winter,'' 1968; and ``On Golden Pond,'' 1981.

Battaglio said she has been inundated with get-well e-mails, flowers and greeting cards from fans as far away as South Africa and as young as 11. The flowers were given to other patients, who were told the arrangements were ``donated compliments of Ms. Hepburn,'' Battaglio said.