Ohio State research links bladder infections to worsened brain injury recovery

New research conducted at The Ohio State University suggests that urinary tract infections (UTIs) following a moderate traumatic brain injury (TBI) can exacerbate cognitive issues caused by the initial injury. The study, published in the Journal of Neurotrauma, utilized an animal model to examine the neuroimmune and cognitive consequences of post-injury bladder infections.

Data indicates that UTIs are a significant concern for TBI survivors; approximately 15% of adult brain injury patients experience a UTI within a year, and these infections account for up to 20% of hospital readmissions in the year following a TBI. Senior author Olga Kokiko-Cochran noted that these common infections may have a much larger impact on recovery than previously understood, as they are often associated with observed and perceived cognitive changes.