RESUMO
Urethral catheterization has become a more common clinical procedure. Many investigators claim that high incidence of infection is encountered in urethral catheterization, while others have underestimated the incidence. In this study an attempt has been made to clarify the degree, pathogens and frequency of urinary tract infection following a single catheterization in normal and uninfected bladder of 30 inpatients without urological symptoms. No antibiotics or sulfa-drugs were used prior to admission or during this study. Urine for quantitative culture was collected by aseptic catheterization and self-voided mid-stream urine obtained 24 and 48 hours following catheterization for colony count. If necessary, urine was also collected after 7 days. Colony count over 10.000 per ml. was defined as bacteriuria and over 100,000 per ml. as significant bacteriuria. The results of this study are summarized as follows: 1) Of 30 cases, bacteriuria was observed in 7 (23.3%). Escherichia coli in 3, Pseudomonas aeruginosa in 1. Staphylococcus+ Diphtheroids in 2 and Streptococcus fecalis in 1. This includes Escherichia coli over 100,000 per ml. and significant urinary symptoms. 2) A single aseptic catheterization might lead to bacteriuria and a focus of urinary tract infection.