Urinary Tract Infection Diagnostic and Management Considerations in People with Spinal Cord Injury and Neurogenic Bladder

Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2024 Jun;38(2):381-393. doi: 10.1016/j.idc.2024.03.012. Epub 2024 Apr 4.

Abstract

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common complications in people with neurogenic bladder. Prevention, diagnosis, and treatment are challenging for several reasons, including a high prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria and catheter use, frequent ambiguous nonlocalizing signs and symptoms, increased risk for complications and difficult-to-treat pathogens, and a lack of effective preventative methods. Current research aims to improve elicitation and evaluation of signs and symptoms, implement algorithms to avoid urine cultures in asymptomatic patients and use appropriate antibiotics for UTI, and identify novel effective prevention methods.

Keywords: Neurogenic bladder; Urinary catheter; Urinary tract infection.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Spinal Cord Injuries* / complications
  • Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic* / complications
  • Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic* / diagnosis
  • Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic* / therapy
  • Urinary Tract Infections* / diagnosis
  • Urinary Tract Infections* / drug therapy
  • Urinary Tract Infections* / therapy

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents