Bacteriuria and safety of female urodynamic studies

Our aim was to study the incidence of bacteriuria after urodynamic studies (UDS) and prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria before UDS.

In this prospective study between March and September 2011, 140 women undergoing UDS were subjected to urine culture before the investigation. Urine was collected aseptically with a sterile catheter transurethrally. Multichannel UDS were performed 3-5 days after urine collection. Prophylactic antibiotics were not administered to these women. A second urine sample was collected within 5-7 days after UDS. Significant bacteriuria was defined as 10(2) colony-forming units (cfu)/ml or more of a single organism cultured.

Thirty (21.4 %) women had asymptomatic bacteriuria before UDS and were excluded from the main study group. Among the 110 women in the study group, 4 (3.6 %) acquired infection after UDS. Three grew organisms found in the vagina (group B Streptococcus and yeast-like organism) and one grew Proteus mirabilis. Age 60 years and above is a significant risk factor. In contrast to the study group, among 30 women who had infection before UDS, Escherichia coli was the commonest pathogen in 19 (63.3 %) and 30 % had diabetes. Eleven (36.7 %) had persistent infection after UDS and the rest resolved spontaneously. In addition, no other related complication was observed on the UDS.

This study shows that risk of post UDS bacteriuria is low in women and screening for vaginal infections may be necessary before UDS. Women over 60 years old are significantly at risk of infection. Bacteriuria is nevertheless mostly asymptomatic and transient in nature.