Nosocomial Bacteriuria in Patients with Indwelling Catheter After Radical Retropubic Prostatectomy for Prostate Cancer

Introduction: Patients with prolonged catheter drainage following pelvic surgery are at increased risk for bacteriuria that may have an impact on the clinical course.

Materials And Methods: We retrieved all urine analyses from 148 consecutive patients that underwent open retropubic radical prostatectomy at our institution in 2002. The following data were generated: number of bacteriuria with day of onset, used antibiotics, microbiological analysis, resistogram, day of catheter removal and clinical postoperative course.

Results: 44.6% of the investigated patients presented with bacteriuria. The highest incidence of bacteriuria was between day 13-15 (40.4%). The most common bacteria detected over the hospital stay were Staphylococcus spp. (24.3%). The most common used antibiotic was trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (44.6%). The highest susceptibility was found for levofloxacin (62.4%). No difference in time period of catheter drainage was noticeable in patients with bacteriuria compared to patients without bacteriuria.

Conclusions: Bacteriuria is common after radical prostatectomy. To minor the risk of complications related to bacterial infection, the catheter should be removed 7-10 days after surgery. In case of the necessity of longer catheter drainage, an empiric antibiotic therapy seems rational.