CLEAN INTERMITTENT CATHETERIZATION FOR THE NEUROPATHIC BLADDER

Clean intermittent catheterisation (CIC) has been used as the effectiv e method of bladder drainage in paraplegics for over a decade in our c entre. In 27 acute spinal cord injury (SCI) patients managed by CIC fr om day one, symptomatic urinary infection occurred in 5 with a follow up period of 10 days to 3 months. No prophylactic/suppressive antibiot ics were used. In 21 patients on long term CIC (1-12 years) symptomati c infections occurred during a 6 month follow up at a rate of 0.07 epi sodes per patient per month. Urine cultures proved positive in 26%. Th e types of bacteria and their sensitivity towards antibiotics were dif ferent in both groups.