Catheter-induced urethritis: a comparison between latex and silicone catheters in a prospective clinical trial

A controlled randomised prospective study has been carried out on 100 male patients to compare the incidence of urethritis following catheterisation with either latex or silicone catheters. All patients underwent elective cardiac surgery and were catheterised for 48 h with antibiotic cover, and were followed up for 6 months post-operatively. Of those with latex catheters 22% developed urethritis, compared with 2% of those in the silicone catheter group. This difference is statistically significant (P less than 0.01). Two of the former patients developed a decreased urinary flow and both had tight anterior urethral strictures.