The need for antibiotic prophylaxis before urodynamic studies

Aim: The use of antibiotic prophylaxis before urodynamic studies (US) is not recommended routinely. We investigated the factors that would enable us to predict bacteriuria that is likely to develop after US, and that make us consider the need for prophylaxis.Materials and methods: One hundred and four patients who would undergo US with a suspicion of lower urinary tract dysfunction were enrolled in the present study and followed up prospectively. The relationship between bacteriuria and several parameters, such as gender, age, body mass index, glomerular filtration rates, systemic diseases, urinary flow rates, residual urine volume, the type of process performed, and maximum cystometric capacity values, was investigated.Results: Following US, a bacteria level of 105 was detected in 7 of 104 patients (6.7%). According to the results of the Pearson’s chi square test, there was a statistically significant relationship only between the presence of diabetes and bacteriuria (P = 0.013). Logistic regression analysis revealed statistically significant results indicating a direct proportion between the incidence of bacteriuria and increased post-void residual volume (P 0.0001), with an inverse proportion between the frequency of bacteriuria and decreased bladder capacity (P = 0.021).Conclusion: Due to low rates of bacteriuria after US, the use of prophylactic antibiotics is not a routine procedure except in selected patients.