The prophylactic use--or misuse--of antibiotics in transurethral prostatectomy

One hundred non-infected patients undergoing transurethral prostatectomy were randomized prospectively into a controlled study to determine the influence of a prophylactic aminoglycoside (kanamycin) on the clinical course. In the non-risk patient prophylactic kanamycin had no beneficial influence on the incidence of bacteriuria, fever or length of hospitalization. Its use was associated with the development of a resistant Pseudomonas super infection in 1 patient. Prophylactic kanamycin did not protect the patient with carcinoma of the prostate from bacteriuria. There was no identifiable advantage in the use of routine prophylactic kanamycin in the uninfected, non-risk patient who was undergoing elective transurethral prostatectomy.