Regression of pyuria during the treatment of symptomatic urinary tract infection in patients with spinal cord injury.

Pyuria is frequently present in patients who require bladder instrumentation. Using the hemocytometer chamber method, we prospectively studied the regression of pyuria in 29 spinal cord-injured (SCI) men with symptomatic urinary tract infection (UTI) who were grouped according to the method of bladder drainage: (a) Intermittent catheterization program (ICP; 10 patients); (b) Suprapubic tube (SPT; 10 patients); and (c) Indwelling foley catheters (IFC; 9 patients). All of the patients experienced relief of presenting symptoms within 3-4 days of receiving appropriate antibiotic therapy. The clinical response was associated with > or = 65% and > or = 87% reduction in the levels of pyuria at mid-therapy and after completion of antimicrobial therapy, respectively. Using a one-way analysis of variance, the group of patients who underwent ICP had significantly lower residual levels of pyuria at mid-therapy and after completion of therapy when compared to the other two groups (P < 0.05). The findings of relatively lower absolute levels of pyuria in the ICP group vs the SPT and IFC group of patients suggest that the response of pyuria to appropriate therapy for symptomatic UTI can be assessed better and earlier in patients who undergo ICP.