Risk Factors and Clinical Implications of Double-J Ureteral Stent Bacterial Colonization

Overview

This prospective cohort study will evaluate the risk factors associated with bacterial colonization of Double-J ureteral stents and examine its clinical implications. Adult patients undergoing temporary ureteral stent insertion for routine urological indications will be followed until stent removal, when urine and stent cultures will be obtained. The study will assess the association between colonization and factors such as indwelling time, diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, prior urinary tract infection, prior antibiotic exposure, and stent-related symptoms.

This prospective observational cohort study will enroll adult patients undergoing temporary Double-J ureteral stent insertion at Al-Azhar University hospitals in Cairo, Egypt. Participants will be followed from stent insertion until removal. Baseline demographic, clinical, and laboratory data will be collected, together with stent-related variables such as stent side, size, material, and indwelling time. Midstream urine culture will be obtained when feasible before insertion and again at removal, and the stent will be cultured under sterile conditions at removal. The primary outcome is bacterial colonization of the Double-J stent, defined as positive growth on stent culture at removal. Secondary outcomes include positive urine culture, febrile urinary tract infection, concordance between urine and stent cultures, antimicrobial resistance patterns, stent-related symptom burden, and need for hospitalization or additional treatment. Risk factors for colonization will be analyzed using multivariable logistic regression.

Conditions