The issue of prophylactic antibiotics prior to flexible cystoscopy

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether single-dose parenteral antibacterial therapy significantly alters the rate of infection in patients undergoing flexible cystourethroscopy. Patients and Methods: 162 patients were studied prospectively having either received parenteral antibacterial chemoprophylaxis prior to flexible cystourethroscopy or not. Pre- and postprocedure mid stream samples of urine (MSSU) were obtained to objectively evaluate the presence of infection. Results: Gentamicin prophylaxis reduced the rate of post-cystoscopy-positive MSSUs from 21 to 5%. Conclusion:The surprisingly high rate of infection after flexible cystoscopy was significantly reduced by a single dose of gentamicin. Copyright (C) 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel.