ABSTRACT. Objective. The frequency of bacteriuria is high in children with neurogenic bladder on intermittent catheterization for bladder emptying. In an effort to decrease bacteriuria, we examined whether the method of catheter care was responsible for the high rate of bacteriuria. For this, the frequency of bacteriuria was examined in the same patient on single-use sterile catheters and on reused clean catheters.Methods. A prospective, randomized, crossover trial was conducted with 10 patients who were randomized to 4 months of a new, sterile catheter for intermittent catheterization and 4 months of reuse of a clean catheter for intermittent catheterization. Each week, a urine sample was collected and symptoms of infection and medication use were recorded.Results T he majority of children with neurogenic bladder have loss of control over voiding; urinary retention and bladder distention usually occur in the absence of intervention. Obstruction caused by urinary retention may lead to deterioration of the urinary tract. In addition, urinary retention may result in reflux into the upper urinary tract and subsequent renal damage. 1 Several strategies for complete emptying of the bladder on a regular basis have been tried. [2][3][4][5] Intermittent catheterization (IC) of the bladder several times daily is the preferred method of bladder emptying in patients with neurogenic bladder. 6 -10 A disadvantage of IC is the inoculation of bacteria into bladder urine during the course of repeated catheterization. 11 As a result, bacteriuria is frequent in urine samples collected from patients who are on IC. 12 In an effort to decrease bacteriuria and subsequent urinary tract infection (UTI) in this population, investigators compared sterile IC with clean IC. 13,14 They found no significant difference in the number of positive urine cultures in the group on IC and sterile technique compared with a second group on IC and clean technique.For the next step in an effort to decrease bacteriuria in patients who are on IC, we compared the effect of sterile, single-use catheters with reused, clean catheters in patients who are on IC. Our study was the first prospective, randomized, crossover trial of single, sterile versus reused, clean catheters in outpatients with neurogenic bladder attributable to myelomeningocele.
METHODS
PatientsPatients who had neurogenic bladder and were on IC 4 times per day were enrolled if they lived at home and had a normal renal ultrasound and no reflux on voiding cystourethrogram. The frequency of bacteriuria in our study group is 75%. 12 All patients continued to receive medical care from their primary physician; no therapies were withheld or altered. The urine cultures obtained for the study did not influence the patient's care, because the results were kept on file by a research technologist and were not available to either the patient's physician or the investigator. The protocol was approved by the University of Virginia Human Investigation Committee.Ten patients enrolled and completed study. Two f...