Association of Bacteriuria and Pyuria During Intermittent Catheterization after Spinal Cord Injury

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Abstract
Because patients on intermittent catheterization often suffer asymptomatic bacteriuria it is important to know how serious such a colonization may be. Hospitalized spinal cord injury subjects (105) on intermittent catheterization were followed. Daily bacterial cultures were performed. When bacteriuria was detected bacterial cultures and uncentrifuged urinary leukocytes were quantified. Gram-positive bacteria, such as Staphylococcus epidermidis and Streptococcus faecalis, produced minimal white cell response, even in high colony counts. Gram-negative and fungal organisms elicited significant pyuria. Analysis of pyuria in conjunction with urine cultures may serve as a clinical guide to treatment of significant bacteriuria.