Prophylaxis of bacteriuria during intermittent catheterization of the acute neurogenic bladder

A randomized prospective study of bacteriuria control during early intermittent bladder catheterization was performed on a spinal cord injury service. The 64 male subjects underwent 16,620 catheterizations and had 83 significant episodes of infection. The infection rates among various groups were compared: 1) control patients, 2) patients treated with intravesical neomycin/polymyxin-B, 3) patients given low dose daily macrocrystals of nitrofurantoin and 4) patients given intravesical treatment and oral nitrofurantoin. There was significant reduction in infection rates when oral and intravesical antibiotics were used.