Prevention of bacteriuria after transurethral prostatectomy with nitrofurantoin macrocrystals

Of 40 patients who underwent transurethral prostatectomy without receiving antimicrobial chemoprophylaxis 13 had significant bacteriuria at some time in the postoperative course. Of 47 patients given nitrofurantoin none of the 42 for whom culture results were available had bacteriuria. This difference between the 2 groups is statistically significant (p less than 0.01). Nitrofurantoin prevents post-prostatectomy bacteriuria and has a theoretical advantage over agents such as the cephalosporins in that its action is limited to the urinary tract.