Antibiotic prophylaxis at the time of catheter removal after radical prostatectomy: A prospective randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of antibiotic prophylaxis with oral ciprofloxacin prior to urinary catheter removal after radical prostatectomy in preventing urinary tract infection (UTI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients undergoing radical prostatectomy were prospectively enrolled and randomized to either the antibiotic prophylaxis group (2 doses of oral ciprofloxacin prior to urinary catheter removal) or the control group (no antibiotics given prior to urinary catheter removal). Neither patients nor study providers were blinded to the group. The primary objective was to assess for development of UTI. The secondary objective was to assess for development of Clostridium difficile (C diff) enterocolitis. Continuous variables were compared using a 2-sample t test. Categorical variables were compared using Pearson's chi-squared test or Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: One hundred seventy-five patients were enrolled and randomized (90 control and 85 antibiotic prophylaxis). After randomization, 4 patients were excluded and 4 patients withdrew voluntarily. One hundred sixty-seven patients (84 control and 83 antibiotic prophylaxis) completed the study and were available for analysis. There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics, perioperative data, or complications. There was no significant difference in the rate of UTI between the control group and antibiotic prophylaxis group (5.95% vs. 6.02%, P = 1). There was also no significant difference in the rates of C diff infection between the control and the antibiotic prophylaxis groups (3.57% vs. 0%, P = 0.21). CONCLUSIONS: In this prospective, randomized, controlled trial, the use of antibiotic prophylaxis with oral ciprofloxacin prior to urinary catheter removal after radical prostatectomy did not decrease the rate of UTI, and was not associated with an increased incidence of C diff enterocolitis.