Antibiotic prophylaxis in stone surgery: a systematic review of the literature

Antibiotic prophylaxis strategies for stone surgery show different degrees of effectiveness depending on both the approach and the patient's condition. Today's evidence suggests that while routine antibiotic prophylaxis might not be necessary for all patients with sterile urine undergoing ureterorenoscopy and lithotripsy vs. percutaneous nephrolithotripsy, for those patients with positive preoperative urine cultures it is beneficial reducing the risk of postoperative infective complications.