Abstract
The occurrence of bacteriuria in spinal cord injured patients with neurogenic bladder dysfunction who used clean intermittent catheterisation to empty their bladders was studied in order to examine cut-off concentration breakpoints for significant bacteriuria in this group of patients using procedures of the European Urinanalysis Guideline.
344 samples were cultured, yielding 285 isolates. Coagulase-negative staphylococci (27%), Enterococci (25%), Klebsiella spp (19%), and Escherichia coli (12%) were the most common findings. Bacteria grew at concentrations of 105-108 cfu/L, but only a few at 104 cfu/L.
It is concluded that low bacterial concentrations in the urine (105 cfu/L) of patients with neurogenic bladder dysfunction who are on intermittent catheterisation might be as significant for bladder contamination with bacteria as a high bacterial concentration and can possibly be responsible for bladder infections.