BACTERIURIA DURING URINARY-TRACT CATHETERIZATION - SUPRAPUBIC VERSUS URETHRAL ROUTE - A PROSPECTIVE RANDOMIZED TRIAL

In this randomized prospective trial urethral and suprapubic routes we re compared in terms of tolerance and infectious potential. Daily bact eriuria determined infectious danger and patients were interrogated on the pain and discomfort induced by their catheter every day. Identica l single dose pre-operative antibiotic prophylaxis was routinely appli ed. Patients (n = 50) were divided into two similar groups (25 suprapu bic catheters and 25 urethral catheters). Four patients in the suprapu bic group were excluded. All specimen cultured by suprapubic catheter remained sterile. Nine urethrally catheterized patients eventually dev eloped bacteriuria. The difference became significant on the third day of catheterization (p < 0.05) and increased on days 4 and 5 (p < 0.01 ). Between the two groups, pain and discomfort did not achieve statist ical significance. Suprapubic catheterization is preferable to the alt ernative using the urethral route in terms of improving urine sterilit y.