Abstract
Urinary tract infection (UTI) may be symptomatic or asymptomatic. The diagnosis of symptomatic UTI is usually straightforward, based on symptoms and signs and support from laboratory data. However, the diagnosis of UTI may be quite difficult to make in patients who are not able to recognize symptoms, such as patients with sensory deficits such as spinal cord injury or who are catheterized, or patients with cognitive disorders. Asymptomatic bacteriuria, defined by high levels of bacteriuria in a person without symptoms attributable to the urinary tract, is discussed elsewhere.