[Clean vesical intermittent catheterization: lubrication of vesical catheter through lidocaine or gentamicine?]

The patients who undergo intermittent catheterization are at high risk of urinary tract infection. A prophylaxis method for this infection can be represented by the lubrication of urethral catheters with 0.1% gentamycin cream. This study compared the lubrication of urethral catheters with 0.1% gentamycin cream and 2% lidocaine jelly in relation to the quantitative results of the urine culture and incidence of symptomatic urinary tract infection and asymptomatic bacteriuria.

Sixteen patients, divided in groups A and B, were studied. Patients in Group A were directed to lubricate the urethral catheter with 0.1% gentamicin cream, whereas in Group B with 2% lidocaine jelly. Urine cultures and urine analysis were carried out every three weeks, for four months, for a total of 5 samples. The presence or absence of bacteria or fungi, the number of colonies and the isolated types, and the leukocyturia were evaluated.

No significant differences in the presence of significant bacteriuria, symptomatic urinary tract infection and asymptomatic bacteriuria were found between the two groups. Escherichia coli was the most common isolated bacterium in both groups.

The results of this study, in line with previous works, showed that the lubrication of urethral catheters with 0.1% gentamicin cream is not an effective alternative to reduce significant bacteriuria and prevent urinary infection in patients who undergo clean intermittent catheterization.