Background/Purpose: Clean intermittent catheterization has been an establishe d practice for more than 3 decades. The validity of antibiotic prophylaxis has b een questioned although not tested. Methods: Eighty- five patients were recruit ed into a randomized controlled trial. The randomization involved the placement into 1 of 2 groups: (A) continuing antibiotics or (B) discontinuing antibiotics. The trial would last 4 months with the outcome being a confirmed urinary tract in fection. All groups were matched for age, sex, and pathology. Results: The incid ence of urinary tract infections was significantly increased in the group who co ntinued to use antibiotics (n = 20) when compared with the group who discontinue d prophylaxis (n = 3). The common infecting organism was Escherichia coli. Concl usions: The use of prophylactic antibiotics for children who intermittently cath eterize may not be necessary. The use of prophylactic antibiotics may result in increased rates of infection because of the development of resistant organisms.
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