Risk factors for bacteriuria and clinical urinary tract infection in patients treated with clean intermittent catheterization.

To study factors that may predict the occurrence of bacteriuria and clinical urinary tract infection, a total of 302 patients using clean intermittent catheterization was followed. Bacteriuria was found equally in men and women, while clinical urinary tract infection was significantly higher among women. Predictive factors of clinical urinary tract infection were low age and high mean catheterization volume in women. In men low age, neurogenic bladder dysfunction and nonself-catheterization were predictors in addition to urine leakage in patients with neurogenic dysfunction. Bacteriuria was a risk factor of future clinical infection and bacteriuria. No other risk factor of bacteriuria could be identified in the female population, while low frequency of catheterization, high age and nonself-catheterization were predictive in men. Patients using anti-infective agents had fewer episodes of bacteriuria but significantly more clinical urinary tract infections compared to nonusers.