Urinary-tract infection (UTI) is the most common type of hospital-acquired infection (30% of all). The purpose of this study is to determine whether antibiotic prophylaxis for urinary catheter removal is useful at preventing catheter-associated urinary-tract infection.

Urinary-tract infection (UTI) is the most common type of hospital-acquired infection (30% of all). The researchers undertake a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to assess the efficacy of single-dose therapy of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole or ciprofloxacin, versus placebo therapy in selected groups of surgical patients who had bladder drainage scheduled to last longer than 3 days.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Urethral catheter in situ for at least 3 days (72h)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Pregnancy
• Impaired renal or hepatic function (serum creatinine > 150 mmol/l, serum transaminases > 75 IU/l)
• Fever
• Symptomatic urinary tract infection
• Antibiotic use ≤ 48 hours before urinary catheter removal
• Allergy to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole or ciprofloxacin
• Urologic pathology