Sterile versus clean urinary catheterisation is not associated with post-transplantation infection

The objective of this study is to determine if there was a difference in rate of post-transplantation urinary tract infection (UTI) in patients who have an indwelling catheter inserted using sterile versus clean technique. UTI is the most common nosocomial infection in the post-transplantation period. We aim to describe risk factors associated with postoperative UTI in our institution and determine if there was a difference between those who have an indwelling catheter inserted using sterile versus clean technique. Risk factors for UTIs can be divided into recipient, donor, and procedure related factors. While an indwelling urinary catheter increases the risk of infection, it is vital for post-operative fluid balance monitoring. Given the morbidity of UTIs in transplant recipients, a number of studies have investigated modifiable risk factors; however, investigation of the technique of indwelling catheter insertion at the time of renal transplantation is yet to be examined. A retrospective analysis of a contemporaneously maintained database was performed of renal transplant recipients over a 2-year period from 2019–2021. Patients were divided into sterile versus clean technique, defined as the use of sterile gloves, gown and fenestrated drape following a surgical scrub, or sterile gloves alone following the use of alcohol-based hand sanitiser respectively. A p value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. One hundred sixty-nine patients were included in analysis, with 31 UTIs (18.3%) within 30 days of renal transplantation. Female gender and autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease were associated with a higher rate of UTI. One hundred twenty-three patients had a catheter inserted via sterile technique, and 46 with clean technique, with no significant difference in rate of post-operative UTI (p = 0.52). Inserting an indwelling catheter either by sterile or clean technique at the time of renal transplantation was not associated with the rate of postoperative UTI within 30 days.