Clean technique for intermittent self-catheterization

Seven patients with neurogenic bladder dysfunction who ranged in age from 16 to 54 years, and who had been on sterile intermittent self-catheterization, were changed to clean intermittent self-catheterization. Urine was monitored for one year after changing to clean technique. Urine specimens obtained while on clean technique were bacteriologically equivalent to urine specimens examined while patients were on sterile technique; the only exception to equivalent urine results were in patients who did not catheterize themselves at frequent intervals. Renal function tests on all patients were also normal. The clean, intermittent self-catheterization technique was effective, since infection did not seem to be caused by introducing bacteria into the bladder via the urethra.