Is antibiotic prophylaxis in invasive urodynamics a useful procedure in postmenopausal subjects?

OBJECTIVES. To define the incidence rate of urinary tract infections (UTI) and the usefulness of antibiotic prophylaxis in postmenopausal female undergoing invasive urodynamics (IU). METHODS. 262 postmenopausal females underwent IU, being previously double-blindly randomized in 2 homogenous age-matched groups. Group 1 (130 patients) received oral antibiotic prophylaxis with a single 400 mg dose of norfloxacin. Group 2 (132 patients) was given placebo. The statistical analysis was performed using a Chi-Square test, in order to evaluate any difference between groups for UTI incidence rate. RESULTS. 54 patients out of 262 (20.6%) developed a UTI [24 out of 130 subjects who received antibiotic prophylaxis (18.4%), and 30 out of 132 subjects who received placebo (22.7%)]. As per the UTI incidence rate, no statically significant difference (p>.05) was shown between patients receiving and those not receiving the antibiotic prophylaxis. CONCLUSIONS. The UTI incidence rate in postmenopausal women undergoing urodynamics is not affected by the administration of antibiotic prophylax.