Antibiotic prophylaxis of urinary tract infection after transurethral resection of the prostate: a randomized study

Transurethral resection of the prostate is associated with a major risk of postoperative infection. To evaluate the clinical and bacteriological efficacy of antibiotic prophylaxis with a single dose of netilmicin sulfate, we conducted a randomized study in 100 patients with sterile preoperative urine undergoing transurethral resection of the prostate. Of these patients 95 were evaluated: 47 were randomized to the control group and received an intramuscular injection of 1.5 ml. of a 0.9 per cent solution of sodium chloride 1 hour preoperatively and 48 were given an intramuscular injection of 150 mg. netilmicin sulfate in a volume of 1.5 ml. 1 hour preoperatively. Of the patients 16 in the control group (34 per cent) and only 1 in the treated group (2 per cent) had bacteriuria (greater than 10(5) bacteria per ml.) (p less than 0.001). This difference also was significant 2 and 5 days postoperatively (p less than 0.05 and p less than 0.001, respectively). One patient in the control group had bacteremia compared to none in the treated group. Clinical signs of infection were less common in the treated group. Sensitivity studies revealed that all of the organisms tested were sensitive to netilmicin sulfate. High concentrations of netilmicin sulfate were found in the urine collected at operation (162 +/- 112 micrograms per ml. urine).