Infection after transurethral resection of the prostate: variation among centers and correlation with a long-lasting surgical procedure. Association pour la Recherche en Anesthésie-Réanimation.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to analyze the risk factors of postoperative infection following transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP).
METHODS: 857 consecutive patients scheduled for TURP were included in a French multicenter prospective study (12 surgical centers). For each patient, data were collected and analyzed as risk factors of postoperative infection. Statistical analysis used the chi 2 test or Student's test for univariate analysis, then stepwise logistic regression for multivariate analysis.
RESULTS: The incidence of post-TURP infection was 21.6%: urinary tract infection (19.3%) and bacteremia and/or septic shock (2.3%). Multivariate analysis documented three independent risk factors of postoperative infection: preoperative bacteriuria (p < 0.003), duration of surgical procedure > 70 min (p < 0.01) and the surgical center (p < 0.00001).
CONCLUSION: The duration of the surgical procedure is an important postoperative risk factor of infection and there is a major difference between centers in terms of postoperative risk of infection. Further studies are needed to explain this last phenomenon.