Surgical infectious disease and the urologist.

Most postprocedural infections in urologic surgery are preventable. Preoperative management of predisposing conditions such as malnutrition, as discussed elsewhere in this symposium, and eradication of existing infections, particularly in the urinary tract, are mandatory. Use of prophylactic antibiotics should be limited to situations in which surgery is done in the unavoidable presence of infection or contamination. Bowel preparation is indicated when anastomosis to part of the gastrointestinal tract is anticipated.