Bladder irrigation with Chlorhexidine reduces bacteriuria in persons with spinal cord injury

Authors

  • Madeleine Wikström
  • Richard Levi
  • Wolfram Antepohl

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2340/16501977-2298

Keywords:

bladder irrigation, bacteriuria, clean intermittent catheterization, spinal cord injury.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To explore whether bladder irrigation with chlorhexidine: (i) can reduce bacteriuria, and (ii) is a practically feasible option in subjects with spinal cord injury practicing intermittent self-catheterization. DESIGN: A prospective, non-controlled, open, multi-centre study. METHODS: Fifty patients with spinal cord injury, practicing intermittent self-catheterization, with a history of recurrent urinary tract infections were screened for bacteriuria at follow-up visits to 4 spinal cord injury centres in Sweden. Twenty-three patients had a positive urine culture (> 105 CFU/ml of > 1 bacterial species), of which 19 completed the study. Subjects proceeded with bladder irrigation, using 120 ml of 0.2% chlorhexidine solution twice daily for up to 7 days. Urine samples were taken twice daily. Response to treatment was defined as reduction in bacterial counts to < 103 CFU/ml. RESULTS: Fourteen of 19 subjects reduced their bacterial counts to or below the set limit. Subsequent return of above-endpoint bacteriuria was seen in most of the subjects. However, there were significantly fewer subjects with bacteriuria after treatment (p <0.005). CONCLUSION: Bladder irrigation with chlorhexidine, using intermittent self-catheterization, reduced bacteriuria in the majority of subjects with spinal cord injury and bacteriuria. The addition of bladder irrigation was practically feasible in the short time-frame of this study.

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Published

2018-01-04

How to Cite

Wikström, M., Levi, R., & Antepohl, W. (2018). Bladder irrigation with Chlorhexidine reduces bacteriuria in persons with spinal cord injury. Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine, 50(2), 181–184. https://doi.org/10.2340/16501977-2298

Issue

Section

Original Report