Derby City Area Chapter of the National Spinal Cord Injury Association
ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION
The Derby City Area Chapter of the N.S.C.I.A. is a membership organization for individuals with spinal cord injuries, their families, and health professionals. Founded in 1984 as a Charter Member of the N.S.C.I.A., it was incorporated under IRS Section 501 (c) 3 as a not for profit organization. The Board of Directors consists of the Officers, Past President and the Board Members At Large.
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OFFICERS
PRESIDENT David Allgood - (502) 589-6620
VICE PRESIDENT Adam Ford - (502) 425-2206
TREASURER Tom Stokes- (502) 957-5865
LIAISON TO FRAZIER INSTITUTE Dr. Bill Kraft – (502) 582-5865
FUNDRAISING CHAIR Betty Perry—(502) 647-0368
CORRESPONDING SECRETARY/WEB MASTER Michael Feger- (502) 647-0368
PAST PRESIDENT Adam Ford- (502) 425-2206
BOARD MEMBERS AT LARGE- Mike Perry Kelly Young
NSCIA DERBY CITY CHAPTER NEWSLETTER
Editor- Barbara Davis
Contributor- David Allgood
BLADDER MATTERS, CONT'D (Continued From Page One)
Rule One to stay infection-free: Believe in the stagnant puddle theory. When rainwater collects in a stagnant puddle and stays there too long, bacteria seemingly appear from nowhere to create a stagnant mini-pond. Unless fresh rainwater is added every few hours and the puddle is regularly drained off, the puddle will become a microbial mess.
Intermittent cathing using clean technique—washing hands with soap prior to cathing, rinsing and drying the catherter after, keeping collection equipment regularly disinfected and thoroughly cleansing genital areas daily—is still the protocol of choice. In combination with drinking plenty of water and maintaining a low-pressure "quiet" bladder (minimizing Reflex bladder contractions by taking anti-cholinergic drugs such as Ditropan) this system works well, but not perfectly. Given time and the right conditions, bacteria will eventually multiply, leading to infection. But vigilance and consistency can limit infections to one or two per year, perhaps even fewer.
If you're following all the rules and still have several UTIs per year, it's time to re-evaluate your program with a qualified urologist, preferably someone with plenty of experience treating patients with Neurogenic Bladder. Dr. Barton Wades, of Atlantic Urological Medical Group in Long Beach , Calif. , has the requisite credentials and experience. His first rule is, whenever possible, get rid of that indwelling Catheter. "All catheters, if they're in the bladder more than 72 hours," he says, "cause infections. Within three or four days, a UTI will develop." Indwelling catheters are a superhighway for bacteria, which multiply every 20 minutes, and continually taking antibiotics will select out a resistant organism.
If you must have an Indwelling Catheter—because you're a high Quad or have very limited or no hand use or you're alone or don't have an attendant, or maybe your urethra has a blockage—Dr. Wads recommends a Suprapubic Cystostomy, which creates a "pipeline" from the abdominal wall to the bladder, bypassing the urethra. An indwelling catheter, inserted in the new opening, can more easily be changed (recommended once a month) as well as irrigated daily. It is more convenient for those with limited hand dexterity and allows intercourse. Compared to indwelling
Since indwelling catheters always introduce bacteria into the bladder, the best defense against bladder infection is drinking enough water so urine runs clear or light yellow. This not only flushes out bacteria, but also helps the bladder maintain its natural acidity, which creates a hostile Environment for bacteria. Vitamin C can help acidify urine.
