Objective To study urinary tract complications in and patients with UTI had the highest mean catheterization volume now, and the highest increase in patients treated using long-term clean intermittent catheterization (CIC), and to evaluate the physical mean catheterization volume from 1989 to 1995. Bacteriuria was found in 61% of the urine samples, factors which might be implicated in these complications.with Escherichia coli the dominant species among women and Gram-positive cocci among men. Patients Patients and methods During 1995, 170 patients (84 men and 86 women, mean age 56.9 years) with a who did not use anti-infective agents had a 31% rate of sterile urine while the corresponding value among mean duration of use of CIC for 8.8 years were assessed for complications related to CIC. The same those using antibiotics was 54%. The frequency of catheterization was the only variable predictive of patients had participated in a thorough follow-up study during 1988-9 and were examined again using bacteriuria apart from the use of antibiotics. Conclusion This study confirms previous reports showquestionnaires and the analysis of urine samples. CIC was practised by two-thirds of the patients because ing CIC to be an excellent procedure for minimizing urinary tract complications and supports the current they had neurogenic bladder dysfunction and for nonneurogenic dysfunction in the remainder.recommendations, e.g. restricting the use of antibiotics in patients using CIC and ensuring that they cathResults In this prevalence study, 111 patients (65%) had no signs of clinical urinary tract infection (UTI), eterize sufficiently often to ensure that the mean volume of each catheterization is kept to <400 mL while 10 patients (6%) had pronounced symptoms. The remaining 29% had only minor signs of UTI.in adults. Keywords Clean intermittent catheterization, prevaThere were three predictive factors of clinical UTI; women reported more infections than men, the lence, urinary tract complications, bacteriuria, predicting variables patients most affected by UTI in the present study were those suffering UTI during the 1988-9 studyThe aim of the present study was to re-examine a

A total of 407 patients participated in a one year follow up study concerning their personal experiences and attitudes towards clean intermittent catheterisa tion (CIC). Most patients (90% ) were able to perform CIC themselves, approximately 70% having no problems with the procedure. However, one third of the patients experienced CIC as aversive with significantly higher distress scores on the general health questionnaire (GHQ-2S). Aversion and distress were more often reported by younger patients and females, and by patients with non neuropathic bladders. The patients' physical disabilities and their length of previous CIC experiences did not seem to influence the feelings of aversion. These findings demonstrate the importance of considering the psychological implications of CIC, and the emotional needs of these patients in order to improve compliance and quality of life.

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