Importance and timing of prophylactic antibiotics in urology with a special reference to growth and kill rates of E. coli in genitourinary organs.

We conducted an experimental study using rats to investigate the timing of prophylactic antibiotics in urological surgery and to evaluate the benefit from a single, prophylactic injection of an antibiotic. Another objective was to examine the growth and kill rates of Escherichia coli 06 in operated urinary tract organs. We were unable to demonstrate a short decisive period for the antibiotic treatment; it seems to vary with respect to the infecting organism and the infected organ. Administration of a single dose of antibiotic was sufficient to lower the rate of infection in the kidney and epididymis 24 hours after the operation and to eliminate bacteria completely from the prostate. The rate of growth and kill of E. coli 06 depended on the specific organs in which the infection took place.