The Effect of Urethral Introducer Tip Catheters on the Incidence of Urinary Tract Infection Outcomes in Spinal Cord Injured Patients

PURPOSE: We attempted to determine whether an introducer tip catheter reduces urinary tract infection in spinal cord injured patients on intermittent catheterization. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The introducer tip catheter bypasses the colonized 1.5 cm. of the distal urethra. Enrolled patients were prospectively entered into the study in alternate groups depending on whether they reflex voided: group 1--on intermittent catheterization with the introducer tip catheter but not voiding spontaneously or wearing an external urinary catheter, group 2--same as group 1 but using a nonintroducer tip catheter; group 3--on intermittent catheterization with the introducer tip catheter, voiding by reflex and wearing an external urinary catheter, and group 4--same as group 3 but using a nonintroducer tip catheter. RESULTS: Statistical significance was shown when comparing patients using versus not using the introducer tip catheter regardless of whether an external urinary catheter was worn (p = 0.0121). A greater difference was noted between patients using and not using the introducer tip catheter in the intermittent catheterization only group (p = 0.0093). CONCLUSIONS: The introducer tip catheter decreased urinary tract infections in hospitalized men with spinal cord injury on intermittent catheterization.