AUA 2016: Comparison of urinary tract infection rates associated with transurethral catheterization, suprapubic tube (SPT) and clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) in the postoperative setting: a network meta-analysis

The authors note that there are very few studies comparing these 3 methods of bladder drainage in the postoperative setting.  A network meta-analysis was performed of the available randomized controlled trials to elucidate the risk of UTIs associated with transurethral catheterization, suprapubic catheterization and clean intermittent catheterization in the postoperative setting. 

They found 14 RCTs to include in the analysis of which there was a total of 1391 patients.  Although CIC and SPT showed evidence of decreased UTI rates compared to transurethral, the differences do meet the physical significance.  Suprapubic and CIC had comparable UTI rates.  The SPT was associated with the lowest rate of UTI but the difference was not statistically significant compared to CIC.  These data show that transurethral catheters is not associated with increased risk of UTI, compared to SPT and CIC, if duration of catheterization is < 5 days.  However, long term SPT and CIC is associated with less infection in the postoperative period.   



Presented by: Hahn, et al. at 2016 AUA Annual Meeting - May 6 - 10, 2016 – San Diego, California, USA


Written by: 

Diane K. Newman, DNP, Adjunct Professor of Urology in Surgery, Research Investigator Senior and Co-Director, Penn Center for Continence and Pelvic Health

University of Pennsylvania, Division of Urology, 3400 Spruce Street, 3rd Floor Perelman Bldg, Philadelphia, PA. 19104