Effect of cranberry juice on bacteriuria in children with neurogenic bladder receiving intermittent catheterization

Objective: To determine the effect of cranberry prophylaxis on rates of bac teriuria and symptomatic urinary tract infection in children with neurogeni c bladder receiving clean intermittent catheterization. Design: Double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study of 15 children re ceiving cranberry concentrate or placebo concentrate for 6 months (3 months receiving one concentrate, followed by 3 months of the other). Weekly home visits were made. During each visit, a sample of bladder urine was obtaine d by intermittent catheterization. Signs and symptoms of urinary tract infe ction and all medications were recorded, and juice containers were counted. Results: During consumption of cranberry concentrate, the frequency of bact eriuria remained high. Cultures of 75% (114 of 151) of the 151 samples obta ined during consumption of placebo were positive for a pathogen (greater th an or equal to 10(4) colony-forming units/mL) compared with 75% (120 of 160 ) of the 160 samples obtained during consumption of cranberry concentrate t he frequency of coli remained the most common pathogen during placebo and c ranberry periods. Three symptomatic infections each occurred during the pla cebo and cranberry periods. No significant difference was observed in the a cidification of urine in the placebo group versus the cranberry group (medi an, 5.5 and 6.0, respectively). Conclusion: The frequency of bacteriuria in patients with neurogenic bladde r receiving intermittent catheterization is 70%; cranberry concentrate had no effect on bacteriuria in this population.