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Updated: Jun 14, 2026

Vessel-sparing Excision and Primary Anastomosis
Published on: January 7, 2019
Symptomatic urinary tract infections after surgery for prolapse and/or incontinence
Gary Sutkin1, Marianna Alperin, Leslie Meyn
1Division of Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Magee-Womens Hospital, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. gsutkin@mail.magee.edu
Introduction And Hypothesis:
The purpose of our study was to estimate the frequency and risk factors for symptomatic urinary tract infection (UTI) after surgery for stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and/or pelvic organ prolapse (POP).
Methods:
Case-control study of 389 consecutive women who underwent surgery for POP and/or SUI. Cases were defined as a symptomatic, culture-confirmed UTI within 6 weeks of surgery. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine independent risk factors.
Results:
Thirty five (9%) women developed a UTI. The risk of UTI was significantly increased by previous history of multiple UTIs (adjusted OR: 3.7, CI 1.4-10.1), increased distance between the urethra and the anus (adjusted OR: 1.4, CI 1.1-1.9), and prolonged duration of catheterization (adjusted odds ratio (OR) for >or=10 days: 4.2, 95% CI 1.5-11.6); 94.6% of catheterizing women were prescribed daily nitrofurantoin.
Conclusions:
UTI is an important postoperative morbidity after urogynecologic surgery and is common in catheterizing women despite antibiotic prophylaxis.
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