520 CHAPTER 13 Neuropathic bladder

Management of recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) in the neuropathic patient

Causes of recurrent UTIs

•Incomplete bladder emptying

•Kidney stones including staghorn calculi

•Bladder stones

•Vesicourethral reflux

•Presence of an indwelling catheter (urethral or suprapubic)

History

What the spinal cord–injured patient interprets as a UTI may be different from the UTI in a noninjured patient. The neuropathic bladder is frequently colonized with bacteria and the urine often contains white blood cells (pyuria). From time to time, it becomes cloudy from precipitation of calcium, magnesium, and phosphate salts in the absence of active infection.

The presence of bacteria, pus cells, or cloudy urine in the presence of nonspecific symptoms (abdominal pain, tiredness, headaches, feeling under the weather) is often suggestive of a UTI.

Indications for treatment of UTI in the neuropathic patient

It is impossible to eradicate bacteria or pus cells from the urine in the presence of a foreign body (e.g., a catheter). In the absence of fever and cloudy, foul-smelling urine, we do not prescribe antibiotics; the indiscriminate use of these encourages growth of antibiotic-resistant organisms.

We prescribe antibiotics to the chronically catheterized patient when there is a combination of fever, cloudy, and foul-smelling urine, and when the patient feels unwell. Culture urine and immediately start empirical antibiotic therapy with a quinolone (such as ciprofloxacin based on local sensitivity patterns), changing to a more specific antibiotic if the organism is resistant to the prescribed one.

Investigations

For recurrent UTIs, such as frequent episodes of fever, cloudy, smelly urine, and feeling unwell, the following are helpful:

•KUB X-ray for kidney and bladder stones. Some consider this to be standard annual screening in patients with chronically indwelling catheters.

•Renal and bladder ultrasound to determine the presence or absence of hydronephrosis and to measure pre-void bladder volume and postvoid residual urine volume and to localize any stones.

Treatment

In the presence of fever and cloudy, foul-smelling urine, culture the urine and start antibiotics empirically (e.g., trimethoprim, amoxicillin, ciprofloxacin), changing the antibiotic if the culture result suggests resistance to

MANAGEMENT OF RECURRENT URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS 521

your empirical choice. Response to treatment is suggested by the patient feeling better and the urine clearing and becoming nonoffensive to smell.

Persistent fever, with constitutional symptoms (malaise, rigors) despite treatment with a specific oral antibiotic in an adequate dose is an indication for admission for treatment with intravenous antibiotics.

If the patient appears to have pyelonephritis or is manifesting signs of sepsis, hospitalization and empiric IV antibiotics (such as ampicillin and gentamicin or third-generation cephalosporin) is indicated with change to oral antibiotics when the patient is afebrile for 24 hours.

Management of recurrent UTIs (see Table 13.2)

If there is residual urine present, optimize bladder emptying by intermittent catheterization (males, females) or external sphincterotomy for DSD (males). Intermittent catheterization can be done by the patient (intermittent self-catheterization, ISC) if hand function is good (paraplegic), or by a caregiver if tetraplegic.

An indwelling catheter (IDC) is an option, but the presence of a foreign body in the bladder may itself cause recurrent UTIs (though in some it seems to reduce UTI frequency).

Table 13.2 Summary of treatment for recurrent UTI’s

Remove stones if present—cystolitholapaxy for bladder stones, PCNL for staghorn stones.