Intraprostatic tissue infection in catheterised patients in comparison to controls

To determine the effect of indwelling urinary catheter on frequency of intraprostatic tissue infection and posto-perative morbidity in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia undergoing transurethral resection of prostate (TURP).

Frequency of intraprostatic tissue and urinary infection, prevalent organisms, histopathology of prostatic tissue, post-operative morbidity were analyzed for 25 consecutive patients' of clinically diagnosed benign prostatic hyperplasia who underwent TURP in catheterized and non-catheterized groups.

Patients mean age was 62.2+7.9 years. In non-catheterized group nocturia and frequency were the most common symptoms. Ninety two percent and 28% patients acquired intraprostatic tissue infection in catheterized and non-catheterized group respectively, while 80% of catheterized patients and 24% of the non-catheterized patients had bacteriuria. Catheterized patients had E. coli as prevalent organism both in intaprostatic tissue and urine (34.8% and 40% respectively). E. coli Serratia and enterobacter were equally prevalent in intraprostatic tissue of non-catheterized patients. Enterobacter was the prevalent organism in urine (50%) of these patients. There was no significant difference in the presence of non-specific inflammatory cells in the two groups. Catheterized group showed significantly high frequency of fever >38.5 degrees C and hematuria for more than 24 hours.

Catheterization significantly increases the frequency of intraprostatic tissue infection as well as morbidity of TURP.