PREDICTIVE RISK FACTORS OF URINARY TRACT INFECTION FOLLOWING FLEXIBLE URETEROSCOPIC LITHOTRIPSY

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The goal of current study was to evaluate prevalence of postoperative urinary tract infections (UTI) following flexible ureteroscopy (f-URS) and to determine predictive factors for those UTIs. METHODS: A total of 420 patients with urolithiasis that underwent f-URS between August 2018 and August 2019 were enrolled in the study. Peri-operative characteristics of patients with and without postoperative UTIs were compared using univariate analyses. Predictive factors for UTIs following f-URS were determined using multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Forty-one (9.8%) out of 420 patients had postoperative urinary infection after f-URS and those patients were classified as group 1. Group 2 consisted of 379 patients that did not develop postoperative UTIs. The percentage of female gender was 58.5% vs 42% in groups 1 and 2, respectively (p=0.042). The preoperative UTI history rate was 51.2% vs 20.8% (p<0.001) and preoperative double J stent (DJS) insertion rate 39% vs 17.7% in groups 1 and 2, respectively (p=0.001). Univariate regression analyses showed that the female gender (OR=1.98), history of UTI (OR=3.99), and preoperative DJS insertion (OR=2.98) significantly increased the possibility of postoperative UTI (p<0.05). Multivariate regression analyses revealed that history of UTI (OR=3.41, 95%CI:1.73-6.72, p<0.001) and preoperative DJS insertion (OR=2.30, 95%CI:1.13-4.68, p=0.021) were independent risk factors for infectious complications following f-URS. If both factors are present, the probability of infection is 55.2%. CONCLUSIONS: Even if f-URS is considered a safe procedure, the risk of postoperative infectious complications is far from negligible. We found that the presence of UTI history and preoperative DJS were independent risk factors for UTI after f-URS.