Comparision of Ureteral Stent Colonization Between Deceased and Live Donor Renal Transplant Recipients.

BACKGROUND: The use of a ureteral stent can cause a urinary tract infection (UTI), although it reduces urologic complications. UTIs are associated with a higher rate of ureteral stent colonization (USC). The aim of this study was to compare USC in living and deceased donor renal transplant recipients.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a prospective study of 48 patients who underwent renal transplantation between January and December 2016. The stents were removed aseptically, the inner surface of proximal and distal ends of stents were irrigated with liquid culture medium, and then they were vortexed for bacteriological investigation. Urine cultures were taken at the same time.

RESULTS: A total of 45 renal transplantation patients (21 from cadavers, 24 from live donors) were evaluated in the study. The duration time of stent retention in patients with live donors was 25.04 ± 4.55 and in patients with deceased donors was 26.19 ± 4.08 days (P = .376). USC was observed in 12 (57.1%) and 6 (25%) patients while positive urine culture (PUC) was detected in 5 (23.8%) and 2 (8.3%) patients in deceased and live donor transplant recipients, respectively. Although the USC rate was significantly higher in the deceased donor renal transplant group (P = .022), there was no significant different in the rates of PUC (P = .137). Enterecoccus species was the common pathogen isolated from ureteral stent and urine. The micro-organisms isolated from ureteral stent in deceased and live donors, respectively, were distributed as follows: Enterococcus 5/3, Candida 3/1, Escherichia coli 2/1, Klebsiella pneumonia 1/1, and staphylococci in 1/0 patients. All E coli and K pneumoniae are extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-positive isolates and resistant to sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (SMX/TMP).

CONCLUSIONS: We report a high incidence of USC in deceased renal transplants. Enterecoccus instead of E coli is the most common pathogen during the first month after transplantation. Transplantation centers should be aware that deceased donor renal transplant recipients are more prone to stent-related infection and the antibacterial resistance rapidly increases in uropathogens.