Objective: To prospectively assess the inherent risk of infection associated with outpatient cystoscopy performed in men with sterile urine without antibiotic prophylaxis.
Material and methods: 298 cystoscopies were performed in men corresponding to these criteria, with the exclusion of patients at risk of bacterial endocarditis. The equipment consisted of three cystoscopes prepared according to the recommendations of the Société Française d'Hygiène Hospitalière. The disease justifying the examination was specified for each patient. The sterility of the urine was verified during the week preceding the examination and 48 hours later by urine culture.
Results: Out of 281 evaluable patients, an infection was observed in 22 cases (7.8%), and was symptomatic in only one case. Escherichia coli was the organism most frequently isolated (50%) and no multiresistant bacteria were detected. A particularly high infection rate was observed in enterocystoplasty patients (21.7%).
Conclusion: The infectious risk of cystoscopy in the presence of sterile urine, performed according to recommendations, appears to be higher than previously reported. This risk appears to be significantly higher in the case of enterocystoplasty than for other diseases.