Conduit urinary diversion and urinary-tract infection. II. Raised serum antibody titers against Escherichia coli and Proteus mirabilis in relation to bacteriologic findings.

Elevated serum antibody titers against Escherichia coli and/or Proteus mirabilis were found in 35% of 89 patients with a conduit urinary diversion. Statistical analysis showed significant correlation between the titers and growth of E. coli or P. mirabilis in conduit urine. But 17 (24%) of 72 patients without E. coli in urine cultures had raised E. coli antibody titer. Only 3 (4%) of 68 patients without growth of P. mirabilis had raised P. mirabilis antibody titer. When the post-diversion observation period was more than five years, the frequency of antibody titer elevation was greater than in patients with shorter post-diversion follow-up. The volume of residual urine in the conduit showed statistically significant correlation with presence of bacteriuria and with the antibody titer level against P. mirabilis. Patients with high antibody titers tended to have high readings of serum creatinine. Antibiotic therapy reduced elevated E. coli and P. mirabilis antibody titers. Titration of antibodies to E. coli and P. mirabilis is recommended in the follow-up care of patients with conduit urinary diversion.