A new study published in Spine examined urinary tract infections in patients after posterior lumbar fusion procedures.
The researchers examined the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database and identified patients who underwent posterior lumbar fusion procedures. There were 10,825 patients included in the study.
The researchers found:
1. The UTI incidence was 1.77 percent.
2. The independent risk factors for UTI were:
• Older age
• Female sex
• Dependent functional status
• Malnutrition
• Diabetes
• Increased operative duration
3. The patients with UTI had a greater risk for sepsis than other patients — 11.5 percent compared with 0.6 percent among non-UTI patients.
4. The patients with UTI were more likely to report hospital readmissions; 37 percent of UTI patients were readmitted, compared with 5 percent of non-UTI patients.
5. The morbidity associated with UTI is substantial and the researchers concluded "increased preventative measures should be targeted to the patients identified here to be at greatest risk."