Urinary tract infections (UTIs) in catheterized patients are considered “complicated UTIs”. However, this term can be misleading and prompt clinicians to over treat infections in this population. It is generally recommended that persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) be treated for bacteriuria only if they have symptoms. Specifically, the 2006 Consortium for Spinal Cord Medicine Guidelines for Healthcare Providers require that the following three criteria be met before an individual with SCI is diagnosed with a UTI: (1) significant bacteriuria, (2) pyuria, and (3) signs and symptoms of a UTI.
Sources:
Consortium for Spinal Cord Medicine. Bladder management for adults with spinal cord injury: a clinical practice guideline for health-care providers. J Spinal Cord Med. 2006; 29(5): 527–573. PMID: 17274492.
Hsieh J, et al. Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Evidence: Bladder Management Following Spinal Cord Injury, version 5.0 [Internet]. 2014 [cited 2016 Sep 26].
Nicolle LE, et al. Infectious Diseases Society of America guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria in adults. Clin Infect Dis. 2005 Mar 1;40(5):643-54. PMID: 15714408.