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The purpose of this trial was to determine if using a closed technique for bladder pressure measurements (BPMs) would eliminate them as a risk factor for urinary tract infection (UTI) in trauma patients, as was shown previously using an open technique.Data were collected prospectively from January 2006 until December 2009 by a dedicated epidemiology nurse and combined with trauma registry data at our Level 1 trauma center. All trauma patients admitted to the surgical trauma intensive care unit (STICU) with and without UTIs were compared for demographic and epidemiologic data. A closed system was used in which the urinary drainage catheter (UDC) remained connected to the bag and 45 mL of saline was injected through a two-way valved sideport, with subsequent measurements through the sideport.There were 1,641 patients in the trial. The UTI group was sicker (Injury Severity Score [ISS] 18.7±11.9 no UTI vs. 28±10.7 UTI; p0.0001), with longer stays (11.4±12.4 days no UTI vs. 37.9±20.3 days UTI; p0.0001) and more UDC days (4.3±6.6 no UTI vs. 23.9±16.6 UTI; p0.0001). The BPM group had more UDC days (15.6 days±16.0 BPM vs. 5.4 days±7.3 no BPM; p0.0001), yet no difference in UTI rate/1,000 UDC days (5.7 no BPM vs. 8.0 BPM; p=0.5291). Logistic regression demonstrated only UDC days to be a predictor of UTI (1.125; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.097-1.154; p0.0001), whereas ISS (1.083, 95% CI 1.063-1.104; p0.0001) and age (1.051, 95% CI 1.037-1.065; p0.0001) were the only predictors of death.Although patients undergoing BPM have more UTIs than patients without BPM, the measurements are not an independent predictor of UTI when done by the closed technique. These findings emphasize the judicious use of BPM with a closed system and, more importantly, the need for early removal of catheters.

To determine the risk factors for urinary tract infections (UTIs) specific to trauma patients in order to assist in the development of infection control protocols.Data were collected prospectively from January 2003 until December 2005 by an epidemiology nurse and combined with registry data from our Level 1 trauma center. The trauma patients admitted to the Surgery and Trauma Intensive Care Unit (STICU)(n = 938) who did and did not have UTIs were compared for demographics, Injury Severity Score (ISS), and epidemiologic data, including use of Foley catheters and bladder pressure measurements (BPMs). An open system was used for the measurements in which the catheter was disconnected from the bag to instill 50 mL of saline into the bladder, and an 18-gauge needle was inserted into the catheter to measure the pressure.A total of 50 patients had no Foley catheter or UTIs. Among the 836 patients with catheters but no BPMs, there were 36 UTIs (4.31%), whereas the 52 patients with catheters and BPMs had 12 UTIs (23.08%)(p 0.0001). Patients with UTIs were more severely injured older females (mean age 40.1 ± 18.6 years with no UTI vs. 48.5 ± 20.8 with UTIs; p = 0.0083; percent female 26.4 no UTI vs. 45.8 UTI; p = 0.007; ISS 19.3 ± 11.3 no UTI vs. 26.2 ± 11.6; p 0.0001). Using logistic regression, BPM was an independent predictor of UTI, with infection being seven times more likely in the patients having the measurements (odds ratio [OR] 6.99; 95% confidence-interval [CI] 3.087-15.827). Along with age (OR 1.039; CI 1.024-1.054) and ISS (OR 1.081; CI 1.056-1.106), having BPMs was an independent predictor of death (OR 2.475; CI 1.191-6.328).This is the first study that demonstrates a greater risk of UTI with BPM using the open technique independent of patient gender or degree of injury. Given these findings and a previous trial demonstrating no difference in UTI rates with a closed circuit for BPM, our institution has incorporated a closed circuit technique into its infection control protocol.