Asepsis and out-patient cystoscopy.

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Infectious Disease Prevention

Background:

• Sterile precautions are standard for invasive procedures like cystoscopy.
• Aseptic techniques may reduce material usage and costs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy and safety of aseptic versus sterile techniques for outpatient cystoscopy.
• To evaluate the incidence of urinary tract infections and rigors in both groups.

Main Methods:

• Cystoscopy was performed on two groups: a control group (n=74) using sterile precautions and a study group (n=83) using aseptic conditions.
• Infection rates and rigors were monitored and compared between the groups.

Main Results:

• Urinary infection incidence was 4% in the sterile group and 6% in the aseptic group, a difference not statistically significant.
• Rigors were infrequent, occurring in only 1% of patients in both groups.

Conclusions:

• Aseptic technique is a viable and safe alternative to full sterile precautions for outpatient cystoscopy.
• Implementing aseptic techniques can lead to significant financial savings in healthcare settings.