Disposable Cystoscopes Do Not Decrease Post Renal Transplant Stent Removal Symptomatic Infection Rates

Objective To evaluate the effect of disposable cystoscopes on the rate of symptomatic urinary tract infections (UTI) following post-renal transplant cystoscopic stent removal. Methods We performed a retrospective study of post-renal transplant cystoscopic stent removals in our outpatient clinic from March 2019 to March 2022. Our clinic converted to disposable cystoscopes in October 2021. All outpatient, phone, and portal encounters were reviewed for 30 days following the procedure. The primary outcome was the number of post-procedural symptomatic UTI within 30 days of the procedure. Symptomatic UTI was defined as fever, dysuria, or hematuria accompanied by a positive urine culture. Results A total of 323 patients had post-transplant stent removals including 123 with reusable scopes and 200 with disposable scopes. Around 1.6% (2/123) of patients with a reusable cystoscope experienced symptomatic UTI’s. They had positive urine cultures for Escherichia coli and Klebsiella. 2.0% (4/200) of patients with a disposable cystoscopy had a symptomatic UTI. The 3 types of positive urine cultures they experienced were E Coli, Klebsiella, and Enterococcus. Conclusion The conversion from reusable to disposable cystoscopes did not decrease symptomatic UTI following renal transplant stent removal.