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A pilot randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial on the use of antibiotics on urinary catheter removal to reduce the rate of urinary tract infection: the pitfalls of ciprofloxacin

Wazait HD, Patel HR, van der Meulen JH, Ghei M, Al-Buheissi S, Kelsey M, Miller RA, Emberton M

BJU international, 2004

38 citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To assess if a short course of antibiotics starting at the time of the removing a short-term urethral catheter decreases the incidence of subsequent urinary tract infection (UTI).

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients across specialities with a urethral catheter in situ for >/= 48 h and </= 7 days were recruited at the time of catheter removal. Patients were excluded if they had had recent genitourinary surgery or were on antibiotics. Eligible patients were randomly assigned to a 48-h course of either ciprofloxacin or placebo tablets starting 2 h before catheter removal. A catheter specimen of urine was obtained before the start of the trial medication. The follow-up was at 7 and 14 days after catheter removal, with a questionnaire for UTI symptoms, and a mid-stream urine sample was taken.

RESULTS: Forty-eight patients were recruited and had a complete follow-up (25 received ciprofloxacin and 23 placebo). Of the ciprofloxacin group, four patients (16%) had a UTI at the follow-up after catheter removal, and two were symptomatic. The UTI in two patients (including one of those symptomatic) was newly developed after catheter removal; the other two UTIs were a result of failure to resolve a catheter-associated UTI. All these UTIs in the ciprofloxacin group were resistant to ciprofloxacin. Of the placebo group, three patients (13%) had a UTI at the follow-up after removal, and one patient was symptomatic. The UTI, newly developed after catheter removal, was resistant to…

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Evidence Hub reads this as a randomized trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 2 of 5 (High · randomized trial). Randomized trials of a reasonable size are the strongest single-study design.

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