Effects of the routine change of chronic indwelling Foley catheters in persons with spinal cord injury.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether routine catheter changes have any effect on the urinary white blood cell count (WBC) and bacterial culture in asymptomatic individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) who have indwelling Foley catheters.


METHODS
Prospective case series.


METHODS
Urology and SCI outpatient departments of a rehabilitation center.


METHODS
Twelve asymptomatic individuals (male and female) with SCI who have chronic indwelling urethral Foley catheters that are changed routinely every month.


METHODS
Two sets of urinalysis and urinary culture and sensitivity from each individual, one set taken through the Foley catheter before the catheter change and another set after the catheter change. WBC, bacterial identity, and colony count were measured, and the corresponding data were compared.


RESULTS
All subjects had pyuria and bacteriuria before and after the catheter change. Analysis of the data showed a statistically significant increase in WBC in the urine after the indwelling Foley catheter was changed (P = .0039). However, bacterial types and corresponding colony counts remained almost completely unchanged.


CONCLUSIONS
Routine change of chronic indwelling Foley catheters in asymptomatic individuals with SCI causes a significant rise in the urinary WBC, without altering the bacterial identity or colony count. Pyuria and bacteriuria are prevalent among individuals with SCI (including those who are asymptomatic) with indwelling Foley catheters. This study suggests that urinalysis should be taken before a catheter change.
Ho
C H
CH
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, USA. chester.ho@med.va.com
Kirshblum
S
S
Linsenmeyer
T A
TA
Millis
S R
SR
D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D001437:Bacteriuria / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling / Q000382:microbiology*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000451:nursing*