Perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis in ureteroscopic stone removal

Objective: This study shall settle the question whether a perioperative single shot prophylaxis in connection with a ureteroscopic stone removal has an influence on the rate of postoperative urinary tract infections (UTIs) and inflammable complications or not. Methods: 113 patients were included in this prospective randomized study. In 57 patients 250 mg Levofloxacin p. o. was given approximately 60 prior ureteroscopy, 56 patients had no prophylaxis. The evaluation of all data which were processed electronically was carried out with the help of a standardised questionnaire. Results: Postoperatively symptomatic urinary tract infections or inflammable complications of the urogenital tract were found in neither of the two groups. In the group without prophylaxis, the rate of the postoperative significant bacteriurias was significantly higher than in the group with prophylaxis (7 patients [12.5%] vs. 1 patient [1.8%]) (p = 0.026). In six cases there was an E. coli bacteriuria additionally a KI. pneumoniae and a not specified Staphylococcus bacteriuria were detected in further cases. Conclusion: Single shot prophylaxis using 250 mg Levofloxacin p. o. can be considered as cheap, the patient not burdened and regarding, the missed selection pressure to nosocomial pathogens the preferred manner of perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis in ureteroscopic stone removal. In addition perioperative single shot prophylaxis may be beneficial in case of an unexpected intraoperative complication like e.g. ureter perforations. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.