[The effect of long term antibacterial treatment following prostatic surgery. A comparative study in 96 patients]

In a prospective, randomized study in 96 patients undergoing prostatic surgery (92 patients) and extensive transurethral bladder surgery (4 patients) all patients received postoperative antibiotics for five days. Following this the patients were divided into two groups. Group A received Bactrim for three months and Group B received a placebo for three months. Urine cultures were carried out six times during this three month period. In Group A, 13 patients (25%) were infected preoperatively and 9 patients (17%) postoperatively. In group B, 10 patients (22.8%) were infected preoperatively and 9 patients (20.5%) postoperatively. There was no significant difference between the results in the two groups. These and other results allow the following conclusions: 1. Routine postoperative long term treatment with antibacterial substances has no significant effect on the postoperative urinary tract infection. 2. Long term preoperative indwelling catheter treatment increases the incident of postoperative urinary tract infection. This can be prevented by operating patients early following the first urinary retention. It is confirmed that there is an increased risk of persistent urinary tract infection in patients with neurogenic bladder disturbances, preoperative ureteral dilatation, diabetes mellitus and various other complications.