The use of noxythiolin (Noxyflex 'S') as an antiseptic irrigant in upper urinary tract drainage following...

Percutaneous nephrostomy drainage for the relief of obstruction or stone removal has become a common procedure. Despite the routine use of prophylactic antibiotics, nephrostomy urine frequently becomes infected (approximately 30% of cases). Noxythiolin irrigation has been used to prevent and treat bladder infections. A double-blind, placebo controlled study was carried out in 20 patients undergoing a single-stage percutaneous nephrolithotomy to evaluate the use of noxythiolin as an upper urinary tract antiseptic. In the patients whose nephrostomy tubes were irrigated with a 2.5% solution of noxythiolin, significant bacterial infection was eliminated from the nephrostomy urine and colonisation of the catheter tip was markedly reduced. Noxythiolin also rendered pre-operative infected bladder urine sterile. There were no untoward local or systemic sequelae in either group of patients. This study indicates that irrigation of the upper urinary tract with noxythiolin solution is safe and may be a useful adjunct to reduce the risk of sepsis in patients undergoing percutaneous drainage procedures.