Silent Burden of Urinary Tract Infections in Intermittent Catheter Users with Neurological Disorders: A Scoping Review

<b>Objective:</b> To map and synthesize the published literature on the epidemiological burden of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in adults with spinal cord injury (SCI) or multiple sclerosis (MS) using intermittent catheterization (IC). <b>Methods:</b> We conducted a comprehensive literature review following PRISMA guidelines, searching PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science for studies published since 2014. A total of 30 studies met the inclusion criteria. <b>Results:</b> Reported UTI incidence varied widely from 24% to 93.1%, highlighting significant heterogeneity across the evidence base. Annually, 15-17% of patients experienced 4-6 UTIs, and up to 16.4% required hospitalization for UTI-related complications. A critical evidence gap was exposed, with only one study focusing specifically on the MS population. <b>Conclusions</b>: Despite its clinical benefits, IC remains underutilized and inconsistently supported. Addressing systemic delivery gaps is essential. UTIs in neurogenic bladder care should be recognized as a modifiable public health issue requiring equity-driven interventions and strengthened implementation frameworks. This review underscores the urgent need for methodologically rigorous research to establish clear best practices.