Urinary tract infections in a group of poststroke patients - a preliminary report ZakaŜenia układu moczowego u pacjentów po udarze mózgu - doniesienie wstępne

Introduction: The incidence, etiopathogenesis, health consequences and costs of treatment indicate that strokes are a very important problem in public health nowadays. Although some progress in the treatment of strokes has been made, the importance of the prob� lem is still increasing. Apart from neurological deficits, as well as cognitive and intellectual impairment, urinary tract infection is one of the most common strokerelated complications to be diagnosed and treated in rehabilitation wards. Aim: The study of the frequency of urinary tract infections and the relationship between urinary tract infection and sociodemographic characteristics and health. Material and methods: The study covered the medical documentation of all patients hospitalized in the ward after a stroke from 01.01.2012 until 31.12.2012. This constituting a retrospective analysis of the medical documentation of 97 patients. Results: We demonstrated an association between urinary tract infections and age (OR=3.77; 95%CI: 1.58�9.00), s ex (OR=4.82; 95%CI: 1.85�12.57), length of time after a stroke ( OR=3.75; 95%CI: 1.43�9.86), and diabetes (OR=3.07; 95%CI: 1.15�8.17). Urinary tract infection occurred in all of the patients with permanent urinary catheterization. There was no relationship between urinary tract infection and the type, location and number of strokes. Hypertension and aphasia also were not related to urinary tract infection. Conclusions: 1. The permanent insertion of a catheter in postst roke patients in all cases results in urinary tract infection. It follows therefore to relieve the patient as quickly as possible of the catheter. It does not follow to routinely cetheterize patients with urinary incontinence. 2. The factors resulting in a predisposition for infection of the urinary tract are: advanced age, being female as well as a short time lapse following the stroke. These individuals require especial care on the part of medical personnel.