Use of Prophylactic Antibiotics to Prevent Urinary Tract Infection After Urodynamic Testing and Cystoscopy in Women: A Practice Pattern Study

Objectives: To determine practice patterns of prescribing prophylactic antibiotics against urinary tract infection (UTI) for urodynamic studies (UDS) and outpatient cystoscopy in women. Design: A cross-sectional survey study was conducted of North American female pelvic medicine and reconstructive specialists (FPMRS).Methods: An online survey was used to assess prophylactic prescribing patterns of FPMRS specialists that perform UDS and outpatient cystoscopy. This survey was developed and then electronically disseminated through the American Urogynecologic Society to 699 eligible physicians.Results: A total of 138 surveys were completed. Approximately half of physicians did not prescribe any antibiotic prophylaxis for UDS or for cystoscopy (54% and 43%, respectively). For patients with perceived risk factors (recurrent urinary tract infections, immunosuppression, known neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction, indwelling catheter use, elevated post void residual/bladder outlet obstruction, genitourinary anomalies, and diabetes), 32% and 41% of physicians prescribed antibiotic prophylaxis for UDS and cystoscopy, respectively. A minority of physicians always prescribed antibiotics for UDS and cystoscopy (13% and 17%, respectively).Limitations: The response rate was a limitation of the study, however, this rate is in keeping with other physician survey studies published within this subspecialty. Selection and response biases may have contributed to the results of this survey study.Conclusion: There was no uniform approach to urinary tract infection prophylaxis for UDS and outpatient cystoscopy in women which reflects the lack of current guidelines and the low level of evidence on which they are based. This non-uniform practice calls for more research to better define an evidence-based standard of care.