Silent Burden of Urinary Tract Infections in Intermittent Catheter Users with Neurological Disorders: A Scoping Review.

Objective

To map and synthesize the published literature on the epidemiological burden of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in adults with spinal cord injury (SCI) or multiple sclerosis (MS) using intermittent catheterization (IC).

Methods

We conducted a comprehensive literature review following PRISMA guidelines, searching PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science for studies published since 2014. A total of 30 studies met the inclusion criteria.

Results

Reported UTI incidence varied widely from 24% to 93.1%, highlighting significant heterogeneity across the evidence base. Annually, 15-17% of patients experienced 4-6 UTIs, and up to 16.4% required hospitalization for UTI-related complications. A critical evidence gap was exposed, with only one study focusing specifically on the MS population.

Conclusions

Despite its clinical benefits, IC remains underutilized and inconsistently supported. Addressing systemic delivery gaps is essential. UTIs in neurogenic bladder care should be recognized as a modifiable public health issue requiring equity-driven interventions and strengthened implementation frameworks. This review underscores the urgent need for methodologically rigorous research to establish clear best practices.