Urinary tract infections and bladder management over the first year after discharge from inpatient rehabilitation

This study looks at how people manage their bladder and the problems they face in the first year after leaving the hospital following a spinal cord injury. It aims to understand if the way they manage their bladder or the severity of their injury affects their chances of getting a urinary tract infection (UTI). The researchers collected data from 169 adults with spinal cord injuries who participated in a trial involving phone counseling after discharge. They looked at bladder management techniques, urinary incontinence, and UTIs reported by the participants. The study found that many people change their bladder management techniques in the first year after discharge, and UTIs are a common problem. The risk of UTIs is linked to the severity of the spinal cord injury and the method used to empty the bladder.

• 1
  Approximately one in five patients changed their bladder management technique during the first year following discharge from inpatient rehabilitation.
• 2
  Urinary incontinence occurred in a substantial proportion of those performing intermittent catheterization (IC).
• 3
  The cumulative incidence of UTI was 71% by the end of the study, and between 27 and 46% of subjects reported UTIs during each 3-month period.