Background/Objectives: Spinal cord injuries are debilitating conditions with significant impacts on physical function and patient quality of life. The high incidence of urinary tract infections in these patients can be attributed to neurogenic bladder—a major complication of spinal cord injuries. The aim of this study is to investigate the incidence of urinary tract infections in patients with spinal cord injuries and their relation to the method of bladder emptying. Methods: A retrospective analysis on 560 patients admitted for rehabilitation at the Clinic for Rehabilitation “Dr Miroslav Zotovic” from December 2009 to January 2023 was conducted. Patients over 18 years old who were inpatients for longer than 30 days without any symptoms of urinary tract infection on admission were included. Patient demographics, injury details, and bladder emptying methods were recorded. Results: In our study, 402 (71.8%) participants developed a urinary tract infection during their rehabilitation. Urinary tract infections were significantly more common in patients with traumatic spinal cord injuries, lower ASIA scores, and thoracic-level injuries. The highest incidence of urinary tract infections was observed in intermittent self-catheterization patients (62.7%), with Escherichia coli and Proteus mirabilis being the most frequently isolated pathogens. Conclusions: The method of bladder emptying significantly impacted the incidence of urinary tract infection in patients with spinal cord injuries. Despite guidelines favoring intermittent catheterization, this study found it to be associated with the highest infection rates. These findings suggest a need for personalized bladder management strategies to reduce the risk of urinary tract infections and improve outcomes for spinal cord injury patients.

Background/Aim. Urinary tract infections are still the most frequent complications in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). The aim of this study was to analyze the factors influencing development of urinary tract infections during rehabilitation in patients with SCI. Methods. This retrospective case/control study including 540 patients with SCI which were rehabilitated in the Clinic for Rehabilitation “Dr Miroslav Zotović” between January 2000 and December 2009. We used patient files and other avail-able medical documentation for obtaining information contained in this study, such as the manner of bladder emptying, the type of neurological disorder of the bladder, the neurological level and completeness of a lesion, the injury etiology, treatment method, secondary complications and associated injuries, kidney and bladder calculosis, age and sex. Results. Out of the total number of patients included in the study, 152 (28.1%) were without urinary tract infections, whereas 388 (71.9%) had urinary tract infections. There were 389 (72%) male and 151 (28%) female patients. The average age of patients without urinary tract infections was 51.0 ± 15.4 years, whereas the mean age of patients with urinary tract infections was 44.3 ± 16.9 years. The results of our study showed that the occurrence of urinary tract infections during rehabilitation in patients with SCIs was associated with the following factors: combined injuries (OR = 3.5), anemia (OR = 5.67), type of the bladder functional disorder (OR = 40-60) and crystals in urine (OR = 7.54). Conclusion. The physicians should take precautions and try to make the early diagnosis and rapid appropriate treatment of urinary tract infections in patients with SCI who also have functional bladder disorder, combined spinal injuries, anemia or urine crystals.