Abstract: Objective To identify the incidence and risk factors associated with urinary tract infection in spinal cord injured patients who accepted sterile intermittent catheterization. Methods 243 patients with spinal cord injury were analysed retrospectively. Results The overall incidence of urinary tract infection was 0.93 episodes per 100 person-days. The risk factors associated with urinary tract infection were age older than 40, frequent exposure to antibiotics, cervical injury, score of functional independence measure less than 71 and bladder dysfunction. The independence risk factors were cervical injury, score of functional independence measure less than 71 and bladder dysfunction. Conclusion High level spinal cord injured patients with lower function and bladder dysfunction are higher risk for urinary tract infection.

Key words: urinary tract infections, spinal cord injuries, sterile intermittent catheterization, Logistic regression