Analysis of urinary tract infections in patients undergoing prostatectomy.

Analysis is presented of 260 patients on whom in the years 1974--1976 an operation for adenoma removal was performed. 115 patients (44.2%) had a permanently placed catheter or were repeatedly catheterized before operation, and 145 (55.8%) were able to urinate without any need for catheterization. In the group of preoperatively catheterized patients infection of the urinary system was demonstrated in 84 cases, which amounts to 75%. Among patients not catheterized before operation, infection already existed in 29 cases (20%). Operation by Millin's method was carried out in 181 patients; non-infected urine was postoperatively found in 40 cases, which amounts to 22.3%. 79 patients were operated on by the transvesical method; in this group non-infected urine was found in four cases, i.e. 5.1%. Calculated x2 indicated a significant connection between the investigated items, consisting in a much more frequent occurrence of urinary system infection in patients operated on by the transvesical method. The duration of catheter reposition in the urinary bladder after prostatectomy considerably influences the number of postoperative infections of the urinary system.