[Oral therapy with ciprofloxacin in the prophylaxis of urinary infections in surgical patients with permanent bladder catheter].

Urinary infections represent about 30% of all infections observed within a hospital environment in surgical patients with indwelling catheter. The aim of the research was to assess the effectiveness of ciprofloxacin the prophylaxis of bacteriuria in vesical catheter-bearing patients, during the post-operative period. A comparative investigation was carried out in 33 patients submitted to surgery and carries of vesical catheters during the post-operative period. The patients were divided into 2 group: one group of 23 patients received ciprofloxacin, and a group of 10 patients represented the control group. A urine culture was carried out in every patient before positioning the catheter, and urine cultures were taken every 72 hours; the urethero-vesical portion of the catheter was always submitted to cultural examination after its removal. Patients treated with ciprofloxacin received good protection against Gram- urinary infections, and catheter cultures also demonstrated inhibiting activity with respect to urethral colonisation on the part of Gram- infections. Confirmation of this results in larger series would be an indication for the use of ciprofloxacin in the prophylaxis of urinary infections caused by indwelling vesical catheters in the postoperative period.