Long-term perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis after urethral reconstruction does not improve clinical outcomes and increases incidence of MDR organisms

To analyze the impact of long-term postoperative antibiotic prophylaxis following urethral reconstruction on perioperative outcomes, postoperative urine cultures, and the emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria.

In this retrospective review of patients undergoing urethral reconstruction with a single surgeon from 2019 to 2023, patients either received long-term prophylactic postoperative antibiotics for 3–4 weeks while indwelling catheters were in place or they did not receive prophylactic antibiotics. Preoperative and postoperative urine cultures were obtained on all patients. The primary outcome measure was the association of prophylactic antibiotics with the presence of multidrug-resistant bacteria in postoperative urine cultures. Secondary outcomes included differences in perioperative outcomes.

Of 166 patients undergoing urethral reconstruction, 147 met all inclusion criteria. Of these, 84 received antibiotic prophylaxis and 63 did not. The number of multidrug-resistant organisms in postoperative urine cultures was significantly different between cohorts indicating a harmful effect of antibiotic prophylaxis (P <.01). There were no significant differences in perioperative outcomes including positive urine cultures, clinical urinary tract infections, wound complications, or recurrence.

These data show that the administration of postoperative prophylactic antibiotics does not influence perioperative outcomes but does heighten the risk of encountering multidrug-resistant bacteria. This novel finding should discourage the routine use of antibiotic prophylaxis in patients undergoing urethral reconstruction.