[Urinary tract infection associated with urinary calculi. 1. The significance of urinary tract infection in urinary calculi].

We investigated 158 cases of urinary stones (infection stones 56, metabolic stones 102) with special reference to pyuria, bacteriuria, stone culture and urease activities of isolated bacteria. Abacterial pyuria was noted in 9 out of 49 (18%) infection stones and in 53 of 77 (69%) metabolic stones. Bacteriuria was noted in 79% of the infection stones and 26% of the metabolic stones. Sixty-seven percent of the infection stones were infected with mainly urea splitting bacteria such as Proteus mirabilis and Staphylococcus. Twenty-three percent of metabolic stones were also infected. Though E. coli, a non-urea splitting bacteria, was isolated most frequently from metabolic stones, urease positive Staphylococcus and Pseudomonas were also isolated. Bacteria within stones could be predicted on the basis of urine culture results of only 20 of 41 infection stones and 8 of 24 metabolic stones. These facts are useful for selection of some antibiotics in the treatment of urinary tract infections associated with urinary calculi. Urinary infections of urea splitting bacteria in infection stones are thought to be initial factors of stone formation and those of non-urea splitting bacteria are to be superimposed. However, urea splitting bacteria in metabolic stones may convert them into infection stones in future.