[On the need of pubic region shaving in patients undergoing endoscopic urologic surgery]

The objective of this study is to assess the effects of preoperative shaving of the pubic region on post-operative bacteriuria after endoscopic urological surgery.

The study was carried out distributing the patients undergoing endoscopic urological surgery in a controlled randomized way in two groups. In a group the pubic region was shaved, according to the habitual techniques, while the other group was not shaved; the rest of the preparation was the same for both groups. Urine samples were collected for their culture before the administration of the prophylactic antibiotic and a week after the removal of the Foley catheter, yet without antibiotic treatment. Special attention was paid to the postoperative incidences, mainly, those of infectious nature.

They were included a total of 449 patients, of which 149 were removed from the study by different causes. Of these, 149 were shaved and 151 were not it. In the group of unshaved patients a 19.5% of postoperative bacteriurias was observed, while in the other group it was of 16.6%. Differences in both groups were not statistically significant.

We conclude that there is no an increase of postoperative bacteriurias in the unshaved patients undergoing endoscopic urological surgery, compared with the group of patients shaved with disposable bladders.