Voided urine cytology is a useful tool predicting non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer risk before surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the accuracy of voided urinary cytology (VUC) in predicting of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) risk stratification before surgery. METHODS: We prospectively collected data from all patients diagnosed with bladder cancer in our institution over 2 years. We have analyzed VUC accuracy of positive and suspicious VUC in the detection of high-risk tumors and negative and atypical VUC in the detection of low-risk tumors. To test this accuracy, we assessed sensitivity, specificity, positive (PPV) and negative predictive values (NPV), diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), and generated ROC curves (receiver operating characteristic curve). RESULTS: With 224 patients included, the positive VUC subcategory showed a specificity of 92.4% (95%CI: 83.2%-97.5%) and a PPV of 91.4 (95%CI: 81%-97.1%). DOR in this subgroup was 6.81. In the suspicious VUC, specificity was 90.9% (95%CI: 81.3%-96.6%), PPV was 88% (95%CI: 75.7%-95.5%) and DOR was 4.23. Combined analysis of positive and suspicious cytologies for detecting high-risk NMIBC showed a sensitivity of 65% (95%CI: 57.3%-73.2%) and a DOR of 9.51. Negative VUC showed high specificity in detecting low-risk (93.2% [95%CI: 87.9%-96.7%]) and a DOR of 6.90 (95%CI: 3.07-15.46). Atypical VUC was the least accurate and had rather low specificity and predictive values. CONCLUSIONS: VUC appears to be a good, inexpensive and easily available method to determine risk stratification before surgery. This can be useful in daily practice to determine which patients should receive a single instillation of MMC and to prioritize patients more likely to have a high- risk tumor.

Immune Predictors of Response after Bacillus Calmette-Guérin Treatment in Non-Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer.

Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) has been the standard of care for the treatment of high-risk, non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) for decades, but 49.6% of high-risk and very-high-risk patients will experience progression to muscle-invasive disease in five years. Furthermore, cytology and cystoscopy entail a high burden for both patients and health care systems due to the need for very long periods of follow-up. Subsequent adjuvant treatment using intravesical immunotherapy with BCG has been shown to be effective in reducing tumor recurrence and progression, but it is not free of severe adverse effects that ultimately diminish patients' quality of life. Because not all patients benefit from BCG treatment, it is of paramount importance to be able to identify responders and non-responders to BCG as soon as possible in order to offer the best available treatment and prevent unnecessary adverse events. The tumor microenvironment (TME), local immune response, and systemic immune response (both adaptive and innate) seem to play an important role in defining responders, although the way they interact remains unclear. A shift towards a proinflammatory immune response in TME is thought to be related to BCG effectiveness. The aim of this review is to collect the most relevant data available regarding BCG's mechanism of action, its role in modulating innate and adaptive immune responses and the secretion of certain cytokines, and their potential use as immunological markers of response; the aim is also to identify promising lines of investigation.

Evaluation of Quality of Life and Self-reported Complications in Patients With Clean Intermittent Catheterization: An Observational Study.

PURPOSE: This study sought to determine health-related quality of life and self-reported complications associated with clean intermittent catheterization (CIC). DESIGN: Observational, cross-sectional study. SUBJECTS AND SETTING: The target population was patients cared for by the urology department at Hospital 12 de Octubre in Madrid, Spain, undergoing CIC for chronic urinary retention of any etiology (neurogenic bladder dysfunction, neobladder, and other). The sample comprised 50 respondents with a mean age of 49 years; a majority (66%, n = 33) were female. Participants performed an average of 4 CICs. METHODS: All participants completed the ISC-Q (Intermittent Self-Catheterization Questionnaire) and a questionnaire about CIC-associated complications. Data were collected in February 2019. RESULTS: A vast majority of respondents (98%, n = 49) indicated preparation for catheterization was simple, and 76% (n = 38) indicated the catheter was easy to insert. One in 5 (20%, n = 10) considered carrying catheters and supplies inconvenient, though 58% (n = 29) indicated it was easy to dispose of the catheters outside the home. Most respondents (98%, n = 49) indicated they felt self-conscious about their need to self-catheterize, and 16% (n = 8) felt that CIC created limitations when visiting friends and family. The most frequent complication was symptomatic urinary tract infections (UTIs); participants reported an average of 1.7 UTIs in the last year. Additional complications, such as epididymo-orchitis, urethral stenosis, and urethral bleeding, were reported by less than 5% (n = 2) of participants. CONCLUSIONS: Participants managed by CIC for chronic urinary retention of any cause reported acceptable levels of satisfaction with the procedure. The reported incidence of complications was low, except for UTIs.

Extrauterine Retroperitoneal Leiomyomas: 3 Case Reports and Review of the Literature.

Leiomyomas are benign mesenchymal tumors which originate from smooth muscle cells. Extrauterine leiomyomas are rare and they may arise where smooth muscle cells are found. Their diagnosis is challenging due to their heterogeneous ways of presentation. Histological analysis may reveal areas of sarcomatous differentiation; therefore, complete resection of the entire tumor is the only curative treatment. There is no adjuvant therapy proved to increase overall survival. It is essential to develop a standardized protocol, detailing how to follow up these patients since it is not reported in the literature to date; however, it is advisable to follow them because the local recurrence rate is high if small implants remain. In this review, we present 3 cases of extrauterine leiomyomas diagnosed and treated in our hospital. The management was different in each case, highlighting the heterogeneity of this condition. According to the literature, there are no solid guidelines on their management. We compare our experience with the data available to date in order to support the existing knowledge and provide our expertise for future studies.

Mitomycin C allergy after passive and device-assisted hyperthermia for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer treatment: A retrospective cohort from a high-volume center.

INTRODUCTION: Mitomycin C (MMC) is one of the most frequently utilized intravesical chemotherapy drugs for the management of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). Allergic reactions (Type 4 delayed hypersensitivity) are seldomly reported in the literature but not so infrequent in daily practice, its incidence has been increasing with the use of device-assisted hyperthermia. This study aims to identify the incidence, risk factors, and clinical characteristics of patients with allergic reactions to MMC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Single-center retrospective cohort from June 2014 to August 2018. Patients with intermediate or high-risk NMIBC were included. Patients received passive MMC (4 weekly and eleven monthly instillations of 40mg of MMC) or Chemohyperthermia (CHT) with MMC (6 weekly and 6-monthly instillations, heated at 43°C [+/- 0.5°C] using Combat BRS). RESULTS: We included 258 patients (MMC = 157, CHT = 101) and found 7 (4.4%) suspected and 4 confirmed (2.4%) allergies in the passive MMC group and 11 suspected (10.9%) and 7 confirmed (6.9%) in the CHT group. The mean number of instillations received before developing the allergy was 6 in the passive MMC and 5 in the CHT group. Seven out of 18 suspected allergy cases were pseudo-allergic reactions with negative allergy tests. Early postoperative MMC instillation was associated with an increased risk of allergy (OR 2.47 [CI 1.39-4.36], P = 0.001), while neither history of atopy nor history of other medications allergy was found to increase the risk. CONCLUSION: MMC allergy risk is increased with the use of device-assisted hyperthermia with an incidence of 2.4% for passive MMC and 6.9% for CHT. History of prior allergies does not seem to increase the risk of developing MMC allergy. In this series 38% of suspected cases were found to be pseudo-allergic reactions, highlighting the need to confirm the diagnosis before definitively stopping the treatment.

Observational study over 8-year period evaluating microbiological characteristics and risk factor for isolation of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO) in patients with healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) hospitalized in a urology ward.

Objective: To analyze, in a urology ward, the prevalence and characteristics of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) due to multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO). Methods: We carried out an observational study from 2012 to 2019, evaluating MDRO among patients with HAIs, who were hospitalized in the urology ward. MDRO include Pseudomonas spp., resistant to at least three antibiotic groups, extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing Enterobacteriaceae or those resistant to carbapenems, and Enterococcus spp. resistant to vancomycin. Results: Among patients with HAIs, MDRO were isolated in 100 out of 438 (22.8%) positive cultures. Univariate and multivariate analyses reported that prior urinary tract infection (UTI) [OR 2.45; 95% CI 1.14-5.36; p=0.021] and immunosuppression [OR 2.13; 95% CI 1.11-4.10; p=0.023] were risk factors for MDRO. A high prevalence of MRDO was found in patients with a catheter in the upper urinary tract; 27.6% for double J stent, 29.6% in those with a nephrostomy tube, and 50% in those with a percutaneous internal/external nephroureteral (PCNU) stent. MDRO were isolated in 28.4% of cultures with Enterobacteriaceae (23.8% and 44.7% in those with E. coli and Klebsiella spp.); 7% of Enterobacteriaceae showed resistance to carbapenems (1.3% and 10% for E. coli and Klebsiella spp., respectively). Three out of 80 Enterococcus spp. were vancomycin-resistant. The rate of Pseudomonas aeruginosa resistant to at least three antibiotic groups was 36.3%. Conclusions: The isolation of MDRO, in up to 25% of positive cultures in a urology ward, constitutes a challenge for the selection of antibiotics. MDRO are more common in immunosuppressed patients, those with previous UTIs, and those with a catheter in the upper urinary tract.

Long surgical waiting list times are associated with an increased rate of negative ureteroscopies.

INTRODUCTION: Negative ureteroscopy (NURS) is "a ureteroscopy in which no stone is found during the procedure." We aimed to determine the association between the surgical waiting list time (WLT) and the NURS rate. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed all patients scheduled for ureteroscopy in our center between January 2017 and July 2019. The inclusion criterion was unilateral, semirigid ureteroscopy for a single ureteral stone; exclusion criteria were renal-only stones, incomplete ureteroscopy, and stones >10 mm. We analyzed age; gender; body mass index; stone size, density, and location; presence of a temporary double-J (DJ) stent; use of medical expulsive therapy; and WLT. Complications while waiting for surgery were also collected and analyzed. RESULTS: We included 219 patients, 41 (18.7%) of whom had NURS. The median WLT was 74 days (interquartile range [IQR] 45-127). Variables protective against NURS were large stone size (odds ratio [OR] 0.78, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.66-0.93), presence of a temporary DJ stent (OR 0.43, 95% CI 0.2-0.8), and radiopaque stones (OR 0.44, 95% CI 0.21-0.88). A long WLT ((≥60 days) increased the risk of NURS (OR 2.18, 95% CI 1.02-4.61). Complications requiring emergency department visits while waiting for surgery were documented in 58/137 (42.3%) patients with indwelling DJ stents; nonetheless, a WLT greater than the median was not associated with an increased risk of complications (p=0.38). CONCLUSIONS: Long WLT has an independent, direct, and linear correlation with NURS rates. Patients at higher risk of NURS, may be offered preoperative re-evaluation with a computed tomography scan in a resource-limited setting.

Iterative renal transplantation: our experience on third transplants.

PURPOSE: To report our experience on third kidney transplantation, analyzing the complications and graft survival rates as compared to previous transplants. METHODS: Retrospective study of third renal transplants performed at our center. Outcomes were compared with a cohort of first and second transplants. RESULTS: Of a total of 4143, we performed 72 third transplants in 46 men and 26 women with an average age of 46 years and mean time on dialysis of 70 months. Thirty-seven patients were hypersensitized [panel-reactive antibody (PRA) > 50%]. They were all from deceased donors, with a mean cold ischemia time of 19.2 h. The extraperitoneal heterotopic approach was used in 88.8%, transplantectomy was performed in 80.6% and vascular anastomoses were realized mostly to external iliac vessels, using the common iliac artery in 15 cases, and the inferior vena cava in 16. The main ureteral reimplantation technique was the Politano-Leadbetter (76.4%). Third transplantation reported a significantly higher incidence of lymphocele (13.9% vs. 3.2% in first and 4.5% in second transplants; p < 0.001), rejection (34.7% vs. 14.9% and 20.5%, p < 0.001) and urinary obstruction (11.1% vs. 3.6% and 6.3%, p 0.002). Graft survival rates for first, second and third transplants were 87%, 86% and 78% at 1 year, 83%, 82% and 74% at 3 years and 80%, 79% and 65% at 5 years, respectively. CONCLUSION: Iterative transplantation constitutes a valid therapeutic option with adequate surgical and survival results compared to previous transplants. It is a challenging procedure which must be performed by experienced surgeons.

Analgesic refractory colic pain: Is prolonged conservative management appropriate?

OBJECTIVES: To propose a clear definition and management pathway of patients with analgesic refractory colic pain (ARCP). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Prospective cohort study from February 2018 to February 2019 including patients with ARCP defined as ongoing renal colic pain after one dose of IV NSAID, IV paracetamol, and a parenteral opioid, given sequentially in that order. Patients were observed in-hospital under full parenteral analgesic management for 8-12 h, whenever patients had minimal or absent pain after conservative management (CM) they were discharged, and followed-up with new imaging within four weeks. If the pain was not controlled after CM, surgical management (double-J stent or ureteroscopy) was performed. We excluded patients with any other indication for urgent intervention or in cases where CM was deemed inappropriate (sepsis, acute renal failure, stones >10 mm in size, suspected concomitant urinary tract infection, bilateral ureteral stones, pregnancy, patients with a single kidney, kidney transplant recipients, difficult access to medical care or refusal to undergo CM). RESULTS: Data from 60 patients was collected. The only variable associated with an increased risk of failed CM was a history of previous renal colic (OR 3.98 [95% CI 1.14-13.84], p = 0.02). Neither gender, age, stone size, location, or hydronephrosis grade were able to predict CM failure. 41.6% of patients were successfully managed conservatively and only 8% of them required scheduled surgical management at follow-up. CONCLUSION: Our results show that a high proportion of patients with ARCP may be successfully managed conservatively with an extended observation period without complications at follow-up. These results should be replicated in a randomized controlled trial to confirm them.

The challenge of pseudomonas aeruginosa related infections in a Urology Ward: Epidemiology, risk factors and patterns of antibiotic resistance. / El reto de las infecciones por pseudomonas aeruginosa en un Servicio de Urología: epidemiología, factores de riesgo y patrones de resistencia a antibióticos.

OBJECTIVES: Urological patients usually come up with risk factors for developing infections. Some of these are caused by multidrug-resistant microorganisms like Pseudomonas aeruginosa, whose notable resistance rates to antibiotics and aggressiveness make its treatment a challenge in clinical practice. Our objective was to analyze Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections incidence, risk factors and features in patients admitted to a Urology Ward in a tertiary care university hospital in Spain. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We carried out a prospective observational study from 2012 to 2017, to review all infections in our Ward with a special focus on those caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, performing a descriptive analysis and a comparison with other causative agents. RESULTS: 78 Infections with Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolation were registered during this period. Having a catheter of the upper urinary tract (CUUT) or comorbidities and undergoing surgery, were frequently observed among these patients although the results did not reach statistically significant differences for more frequent isolation compared to other pathogens. Antibiotic resistance rates were high for cephalosporins (33.3%) and quinolones (50%), while carbapenems (24.4%), aztreonam (10.3%) and amikacin (23.1%) exhibited the best activity. No deaths related to the infection were registered. CONCLUSIONS: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is commonly isolated in patients carrying a CUUT. An early suspicion of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection and knowledge of local antibiotic resistance pattern are of paramount importance for improving the outcomes and handling this worldwide problem.

OBJETIVOS: Los pacientes urológicos se acompañan habitualmente de factores de riesgo para el desarrollo de infecciones. Algunas de éstas son causadas por microorganismos multi-resistentes como Pseudomonas aeruginosa, cuyas notables tasas de resistencia a los antibióticos y agresividad hacen de su tratamiento un reto para la práctica clínica. Nuestro objetivo fue analizar la incidencia de infecciones por Pseudomonas aeruginosa, factores de riesgo y características en pacientes ingresados en el Servicio de Urología de un hospital universitario de tercer nivel en España.MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS: Llevamos a cabo un estudio observacional prospectivo desde 2012 hasta 2017, para revisar todas las infecciones en nuestro Servicio, con especial atención en aquellas causadas por Pseudomonas aeruginosa, haciendo un análisis descriptivo y una comparación con otros agentes causales. RESULTADOS: Durante este periodo se registraron 78 infecciones por Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Frecuentemente estos pacientes portaban un catéter del tracto urinario superior, tenían comorbilidades o se habían sometido a una intervención quirúrgica, aunque ningún factor alcanzó la significación estadística para mayor frecuencia de aislamiento de Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Las tasas de resistencia antibiótica fueron altas para cefalosporinas (33,3%) y quinolonas (50%), mientras que los carbapenémicos (24,4%), aztreonam (10,3%) y amikacina (23,1%) mostraron la mejor actividad. No se registraron éxitus relacionados con estas infecciones. CONCLUSIONES: El aislamiento de Pseudomonas aeruginosa es frecuente en portadores de catéteres del tracto urinario superior. La sospecha precoz de estas infecciones y el conocimiento de los patrones locales de resistencia a antibióticos son de vital importancia para mejorar los resultados de este problema a nivel global.

The challenge of pseudomonas aeruginosa related infections. In a urology ward: epidemiology, risk factors and patterns of antibiotic resistance / El reto de las infecciones por pseudomonas aeruginosa en un Servicio de Urología: epidemiología, factores de riesgo y patrones de resistencia a antibióticos

OBJECTIVES: Urological patients usually come up with risk factors for developing infections. Some of these are caused by multidrug-resistant microorganisms like Pseudomonas aeruginosa, whose notable resistance rates to antibiotics and aggressiveness make its treatment a challenge in clinical practice. Our objective was to analyze Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections incidence, risk factors and features in patients admitted to a Urology Ward in a tertiary care university hospital in Spain. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We carried out a prospective observational study from 2012 to 2017, to review all infections in our Ward with a special focus on those caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, performing a descriptive analysis and a comparison with other causative agents. RESULTS: 78 Infections with Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolation were registered during this period. Having a catheter of the upper urinary tract (CUUT) or comorbidities and undergoing surgery, were frequently observed among these patients although the results did not reach statistically significant differences for more frequent isolation compared to other pathogens. Antibiotic resistance rates were high for cephalosporins (33.3%) and quinolones (50%), while carbapenems (24.4%), aztreonam (10.3%) and amikacin (23.1%) exhibited the best activity. No deaths related to the infection were registered. CONCLUSIONS: pseudomonas aeruginosa is commonly isolated in patients carrying a CUUT. An early suspicion of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection and knowledge of local antibiotic resistance pattern are of paramount importance for improving the outcomes and handling this worldwide problema

OBJETIVOS: Los pacientes urológicos se acompañan habitualmente de factores de riesgo para el desarrollo de infecciones. Algunas de éstas son causadas por microorganismos multi-resistentes como Pseudomonas aeruginosa, cuyas notables tasas de resistencia a los antibióticos y agresividad hacen de su tratamiento un reto para la práctica clínica. Nuestro objetivo fue analizar la incidencia de infecciones por Pseudomonas aeruginosa, factores de riesgo y características en pacientes ingresados en el Servicio de Urología de un hospital universitario de tercer nivel en España. MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS: Llevamos a cabo un estudio observacional prospectivo desde 2012 hasta 2017, para revisar todas las infecciones en nuestro Servicio, con especial atención en aquellas causadas por Pseudomonas aeruginosa, haciendo un análisis descriptivo y una comparación con otros agentes causales. RESULTADOS: Durante este periodo se registraron 78 infecciones por Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Frecuentemente estos pacientes portaban un catéter del tracto urinario superior, tenían comorbilidades o se habían sometido a una intervención quirúrgica, aunque ningún factor alcanzó la significación estadística para mayor frecuencia de aislamiento de Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Las tasas de resistencia antibiótica fueron altas para cefalosporinas (33,3%) y quinolonas (50%), mientras que los carbapenémicos (24,4%), aztreonam (10,3%) y amikacina (23,1%) mostraron la mejor actividad. No se registraron éxitus relacionados con estas infecciones. CONCLUSIONES: El aislamiento de Pseudomonas aeruginosa es frecuente en portadores de catéteres del tracto urinario superior. La sospecha precoz de estas infecciones y el conocimiento de los patrones locales de resistencia a antibióticos son de vital importancia para mejorar los resultados de este problema a nivel global

Prevention of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in a surgical urology ward: observational study-analysis of the problem and strategies for implementation.

PURPOSE: Our purpose is to present the results of our working group, with a view to reduce the incidence and improve the management of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in a urology ward. METHODS: The study consists on an observational database designed with the view to analyse the incidence and characteristics of HAIs in Urology. Based on the results obtained, a critical evaluation was carried out and specific measures put in place to reduce HAIs. Finally, the impact and results of the implemented measures were periodically evaluated. RESULTS: The incidence of HAIs in urology decreased from 6.6 to 7.3% in 2012-2014 to 5.4-5.8% in 2016-2018. In patients with immunosuppression the incidence of HAIs decreased from 12.8 to 18% in 2012-2013 to 8.1-10.2% in 2017-2018, in those with a previous urinary infection fell from 13.6 to 4.8%, in those with a urinary catheter prior to admission from 12.6 to 10.8%, and in patients with a nephrostomy tube from 16 to 10.9%. The effect of the protocol also demonstrated a reduction in the percentage of patients with suspicion of HAIs for whom no culture was taken, from 6% in 2012 to zero in 2017 and 2018. Moreover, the implementation of protocols for empirical treatment has reduced the incidence of patients experiencing inadequate empirical antimicrobial therapy from 20 to 8.1%. CONCLUSION: It is essential to monitor the incidence of HAIs, and preventive measures play a useful role in reducing the rate of infection and in optimising their management.