SCI Model Systems Complicated Urinary Tract Infection (cUTI) Guidelines: International Consensus on cUTI Likelihood Based on Symptoms.

Background: Complicated urinary tract infection (cUTI) is prevalent among people with spinal cord injury and disease (SCI/D). Diagnostic guidelines are neither consistent nor evidence based.

Objectives: To establish consensus around symptoms-based diagnostic and decision-making criteria for cUTI for SCI/D.

Methods: A representative sample of clinicians from PM&R, infectious disease, urology, and primary care within the United States (phase 1) and internationally (phase 2) participated in this study. Phase 1 involved focus groups and interviews to refine a decision-making paradigm for cUTI based on reliable and validated Urinary Symptom Questionnaires for Neurogenic Bladder (USQNBs: intermittent catheterization, indwelling catheterization, and voider versions). The phase 2 international Delphi survey on cUTI diagnostic criteria reflected phase 1 results. These criteria feature 6 "profiles": combinations of symptom number and types with associated likelihood of cUTI for each USQNB (18 total decisions).

Results: Analyses of the phase 1 transcripts (n = 32) led to the Delphi design. Across the United States and internationally, 24 responses were obtained on the complete Delphi, with 48 responses on the USQNB for intermittent catheterization only. We achieved the a priori target 80% consensus on 13 of 18 decisions. The remaining 5 decisions reached 62.2% to 77.8% agreement. Changes were made based on respondent suggestions to clarify decisions and slightly modify risk descriptors. One hundred percent consensus among subject matter experts from 9 collaborating SCI model systems centers was achieved for the revisions.

Conclusion: This is the first international and empirical initiative to establish cUTI symptoms-based guidelines for cUTI in SCI/D. These guidelines provide a coherent and evidence-based approach to decision making based on symptoms for clinicians and patients.