Bacteriological complications from the use of urethral instruments: Principles of prevention

Guidance by bacteriologists and changes in theatre and ward disciplines have greatly improved the results of urological surgery in recent years. The most noteworthy successes have been in treatment of chronic retention with renal failure, and in prevention of the bacteraemia which may occur following removal of the post-operative catheter or the passage of an instrument to dilate a stricture. It is hoped that safer urethral instrumentation may also reduce the incidence of chronic pyelonephritis.