Objective: To assess prospectively the incidence with time of asymptomatic bacteriuria in patients with orthotopic ileal neobladders, and the possible effect on neobladder function.
Patients and methods: In all, 47 patients (mean age 52.7 years, sd 8.7, range 31-68) with uncomplicated orthotopic ileal neobladders were prospectively evaluated. With no antibiotic manipulation, consecutive urine cultures were assessed monthly. Continence was assessed by direct information from the patients at each follow-up visit.
Results: Overall, 797 samples were cultured from the 47 patients (mean 17.6, sd 7.1). There was a steady decrease in the incidence of positive cultures, from 74.5%, to 35.6% and 6.7% at 1, 6 and 18 months, respectively. While there was persistently sterile urine in only eight patients (17%), 32 had occasional and seven had persistent bacteriuria. Escherichia coli was the commonest organism (76.6%) followed by Klebsiella pneumonia (15.7%); 54% of E. coli and 38% of K. pneumonia infections were sensitive to nitrofurantoin. Diurnal continence was achieved in 98% of the patients at 6 months after surgery. There was a gradual decrease in the frequency of nocturnal enuresis (NE) with time, from 87%, to 42%, 28% and 27% at 1, 6, 12 and 18 months, respectively. There was a significant correlation between the presence of bacteriuria and NE during the first 6 months, but it was not sustained after that. The age of the patients was also related significantly to the incidence of NE; at 6 months, only one of 18 men aged < or = 50 years had NE, while 19 of 29 aged > 50 years had (P < 0.001). At 1 year all patients aged < or = 50 years were nocturnally continent, while half of those aged > 50 years had NE (P = 0.001).
Conclusions: Ileal neobladders are associated with a high incidence of asymptomatic bacteriuria during the first year after surgery. There was spontaneous clearance of bacteriuria with time, with no antimicrobial manipulation. Soon after surgery there was a significant association between bacteriuria and NE. The effect of antimicrobials on patients with NE should be evaluated.