The Effect of Pre-TURP Bladder Irrigation with 0.2% Chlorhexidine in Patients with Foley Catheter Regarding Postoperative Bacteremia Decrease

 Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) has been widely used for patients suffering from bladder colonization with bacteria, increasing the probability of bacteremia and sepsis despite consuming prophylaxis antibiotics.

 The study aimed to evaluate the effect of pre- TURP bladder irrigation with 0.2% chlorhexidine in reducing postoperative bacteremia.

 This clinical trial study was conducted on 60 benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) patients who were candidates for TURP in the urology department of Al-Zahra Hospital. All patients suffered from urinary catheters, and they were allocated into two groups (n = 30). Antibiotic prophylaxis was prescribed for all the patients. In the case group, the bladder was rinsed by chlorhexidine 0.2% before TURP; however, and the bladder in the control group was rinsed by distilled water. Postoperative bacteria were evaluated using procalcitonin (PCT) measurement and BACTEC automated blood culture six hours after surgery.

 Positive BACTEC blood culture was observed in three (10%) and no (0%) patients in the control and case groups, respectively (P = 0.071). Moreover, 6.6 % and 46.6 % of the patients in the control group had low and high PCT levels, respectively. Furthermore, 40 % and 6.66 % of the patients in the case group had low and high PCT levels, respectively. There was a significant difference between the two groups in terms of the PCT level (P < 0.01).

 The frequency of patients with a high PCT level was higher in the control group than in the case group, suggesting that chlorhexidine in the catheterized patients undergoing TURP reduced the number of bacteria in the bladder.