Prospective Evaluation of Antibiotic Management in Ureteral Stent and Nephrostomy Interventions

Introduction: Screening for and treating asymptomatic bacteriuria (ABU) or administering antibiotic prophylaxis is recommended during ureteral stent and nephrostomy interventions. This study investigates the frequency of postinterventional infectious complications to gain insight into the need for antibiotics.

Methods: Between September 2016 and June 2019, 168 insertions/exchanges of ureteral stents or nephrostomies were recorded in a prospective multicenter study. Patients without a symptomatic UTI did not receive antibiotic treatment/prophylaxis. Asymptomatic patients in whom their urologist already administered an antibiotic treatment served as a comparative group. Follow-up included postinterventional complications within 30 days. Symptoms were assessed by the Acute Cystitis Symptom Score (ACSS) before and after the intervention. Predictors of increasing postinterventional symptoms were analyzed by a multivariable logistic regression model.

Results: One hundred forty-five interventions were eligible. One hundred twenty-two (84.1%) interventions were performed without antibiotic treatment. Preinterventional ABU was detected in 54.4% and sterile urine in 22.8% (22.8% without culture). Postinterventional infectious complications did not differ between patients with versus without antibiotics. Transurethral interventions aggravate symptoms (p = 0.034) but do not increase infectious complications compared to percutaneous interventions. Patients without diabetes mellitus are at higher risk for increasing symptoms.

Conclusion: Results indicate that peri-interventional antibiotic treatment may be omitted in patients without symptomatic UTI. Symptoms must be differentiated between infectious and procedure-associated origins.