PEDIATRICS Vol. 108 No. 4
October 2001,
p. e71
ELECTRONIC ARTICLE:
Effect of a Single-Use Sterile Catheter for Each Void on the
Frequency of Bacteriuria in Children With Neurogenic Bladder on
Intermittent Catheterization for Bladder Emptying
Received Mar 30, 2001; accepted May 21, 2001.
Theresa A. Schlager*, 
,
Maureen Clark*, and
Susan Anderson*
From the Departments of * Pediatrics and Emergency Medicine,
University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, Virginia.
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. A total of 158 urine samples were collected
during 164 patient-weeks on the new catheter method for each
void; 115 (73%) were positive for a pathogen. Of the 161 samples
collected during 169 patient-weeks on the standard, reuse method for
voiding, 123 (76%) were positive (115 [73%] of 158 vs 123 [76%]
of 161). Escherichia coli was the most common pathogen
detected during both method periods.
Conclusion. A new, sterile catheter for each void did not
decrease the high frequency of bacteriuria in patients with neurogenic
bladder on intermittent catheterization.
Key words:
urinary tract
infection,
bacteriuria,
intermittent catheterization,
neurogenic
bladder.
