Urinary Tract Infections in Spinal Cord Injured Patients
2 İstanbul Üniversitesi Cerrahpaşa Tıp Fakültesi, Üroloji Anabilim Dalı, İstanbul
Spinal cord injured patients are highly prone to urinary tract infections. The high frequency of recurrences, the problems with drug resistance and the difficulties associated with diagnosis complicate the management. In this study we aimed to investigate the urinary tract infections (UTI) among spinal cord injured patients who were evaluated by urodynamic studies; also possible correlations between UTI, type of microorganism and gender, type of bladder management and urodynamic findings were examined. Out of 338 patients we could obtain sufficient data in 285. In 172 of the patients urine cultures were positive, E coli being the most predominant microorganism. Indwelling catheterization and UTI were found to be highly correlated. It was concluded that patients with SCI should be followed up lifelong for possible urinary tract complications..
Keywords : Urinary tract infections, spinal cord injury