The effect of urethral introducer tip catheters on the incidence of urinary tract infection outcomes in spinal cord injured patients.
OBJECTIVE
We attempted to determine whether an introducer tip catheter reduces urinary tract infection in spinal cord injured patients on intermittent catheterization.


METHODS
The introducer tip catheter bypasses the colonized 1.5 cm. of the distal urethra. Enrolled patients were prospectively entered into the study in alternate groups depending on whether they reflex voided: group 1--on intermittent catheterization with the introducer tip catheter but not voiding spontaneously or wearing an external urinary catheter, group 2--same as group 1 but using a nonintroducer tip catheter; group 3--on intermittent catheterization with the introducer tip catheter, voiding by reflex and wearing an external urinary catheter, and group 4--same as group 3 but using a nonintroducer tip catheter.


RESULTS
Statistical significance was shown when comparing patients using versus not using the introducer tip catheter regardless of whether an external urinary catheter was worn (p = 0.0121). A greater difference was noted between patients using and not using the introducer tip catheter in the intermittent catheterization only group (p = 0.0093).


CONCLUSIONS
The introducer tip catheter decreased urinary tract infections in hospitalized men with spinal cord injury on intermittent catheterization.
Bennett
C J
CJ
Department of Urology, University of California at Los Angeles, USA.
Young
M N
MN
Razi
S S
SS
Adkins
R
R
Diaz
F
F
McCrary
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000382:microbiology; D014546:Urinary Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*