Predictive risk factors of urinary tract infection following flexible ureteroscopic lithotripsy.

OBJECTIVES

The goal of current study was to evaluate prevalence of postoperative urinary tract infections (UTI) following flexible ureteroscopy (f-URS) and to determine predictive factors for those UTIs.

METHODS

A total of 420 patients with urolithiasis that underwent f-URS between August 2018 and August 2019 were enrolled in the study. Peri-operative characteristics of patients with and without postoperative UTIs were compared using univariate analyses. Predictive factors for UTIs following f-URS were determined using multivariate logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

Forty-one (9.8%) out of 420 patients had postoperative urinary infection after f-URS and those patients were classified as group 1. Group 2 consisted of 379 patients that did not develop postoperative UTIs. The percentage of female gender was 58.5% vs 42% in groups 1 and 2, respectively (p=0.042). The preoperative UTI history rate was 51.2% vs 20.8% (p<0.001) and preoperative double J stent (DJS) insertion rate 39% vs 17.7% in groups 1 and 2, respectively (p=0.001). Univariate regression analyses showed that the female gender (OR=1.98), history of UTI (OR=3.99), and preoperative DJS insertion (OR=2.98) significantly increased the possibility of postoperative UTI (p<0.05). Multivariate regression analyses revealed that history of UTI (OR=3.41, 95%CI:1.73-6.72, p<0.001) and preoperative DJS insertion (OR=2.30, 95%CI:1.13-4.68, p=0.021) were independent risk factors for infectious complications following f-URS. If both factors are present, the probability of infection is 55.2%.

CONCLUSIONS

Even if f-URS is considered a safe procedure, the risk of postoperative infectious complications is far from negligible. We found that the presence of UTI history and preoperative DJS were independent risk factors for UTI after f-URS.