THE INCIDENCE OF POSTOPERATIVE URINARY-TRACT INFECTION IN PATIENTS WITH URETERIC STENTS

Summary— Despite the many advantages provided by the ureteric stent, it produces a foreign body reaction and increases the risk of infection. We undertook a study on the rate of infection in a group of paediatric patients with ureteric stents; 40 ureteric stents, 6 to 9 F, were used in 36 children undergoing the following procedures: 18 pyeloplasties, 20 antireflux ureteric reimplantations and 2 uretero‐rectal anastomoses. Only patients with sterile urine pre‐operatively were included in the study. All received antibiotic cover in the post‐operative period. Positive urine cultures were found in only 3 patients (7.5%). In spite of this low incidence, the urine specimens collected from all children 1 month after removal of the stent showed a much higher incidence of infection. It was concluded that ureteric stenting is a safe procedure with a low rate of infection provided that antibiotic cover is given. © 1990 British Journal of Urology