Issue: Vojnosanit Pregl 2015; Vol. 72 (No. 12)
Analysis of the factors influencing development of urinary tract infections in patients with spinal cord injuriеs
Authors:
Aleksandra Sekulić*, Aleksandra Karadžov Nikolić†, Zoran Bukumirić‡, Goran Trajković‡, Aleksandar Ćorac§, Slobodan Јаnković||, Saša Milićević§
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Background/Aim. Urinary tract infections are still the
most frequent complications in patients with spinal cord injury
(SCI). The aim of this study was to analyze the factors
influencing development of urinary tract infections during
rehabilitation in patients with SCI. Methods. This retrospective
case/control study including 540 patients with SCI
which were rehabilitated in the Clinic for Rehabilitation “Dr
Miroslav Zotović” between January 2000 and December
2009. We used patient files and other available medical
documentation for obtaining information contained in this
study, such as the manner of bladder emptying, the type of
neurological disorder of the bladder, the neurological level
and completeness of a lesion, the injury etiology, treatment
method, secondary complications and associated injuries,
kidney and bladder calculosis, age and sex. Results. Out of
the total number of patients included in the study, 152
(28.1%) were without urinary tract infections, whereas 388
(71.9%) had urinary tract infections. There were 389 (72%)
male and 151 (28%) female patients. The average age of patients
without urinary tract infections was 51.0 ± 15.4 years,
whereas the mean age of patients with urinary tract infections
was 44.3 ± 16.9 years. The results of our study showed that
the occurrence of urinary tract infections during rehabilitation
in patients with SCIs was associated with the following factors:
combined injuries (OR = 3.5), anemia (OR = 5.67), type
of the bladder functional disorder (OR = 40–60) and crystals
in urine (OR = 7.54). Conclusion. The physicians should
take precautions and try to make the early diagnosis and rapid
appropriate treatment of urinary tract infections in patients
with SCI who also have functional bladder disorder, combined
spinal injuries, anemia or urine crystals
