Altered intrinsic defence mechanisms and immune suppression after spinal injuries augment the risk of UTIs possibly due to changes in the microbial flora, immunological deficiencies,¹ and alterations in the bladder wall and its urothelium.^2,3

Such conditions are presently not readily modifiable in daily clinical practice.⁴

How can nerve damage lead to an impaired immune system?

Apart from the local injury in the spinal cord, patients may develop a variety of complications characterized by multiple-organ dysfunction such as lung injury, cardiovascular disease, liver and kidney damage, and increased susceptibility to infection.⁴

The damage to the autonomic nerve system (ANS) leads to a general immune dysfunction through the loss of neural innervation of lymphoid organs.⁴