Effect of co-trimoxazole and N-acetylcysteine alone and in combination on bacterial adherence on ureteral stent surface

Abstract To assess the effect of co-trimoxazole and N-acetylcysteine (NAC), alone and in combination, on bacterial adherence to biofilm formed on ureteral stent surfaces. This prospective randomized study was conducted on 636 patients who underwent double J ureteral stent insertion after variable urological procedures. Patients were randomized into four groups: A ( n  = 165), no antibiotics or mucolytics during stent indwelling; B ( n  = 153), oral NAC (200 mg/day for children aged < 12 years old and 600 mg/day for adults) during stent indwelling; C ( n  = 162), oral co-trimoxazole (2 mg TMP/kg/day) during stent indwelling; and D ( n  = 156), both oral NAC and co-trimoxazole during stent indwelling. Two weeks following double J stent (JJ stent) insertion, urinalysis was performed on all patients and urine culture was done for all the patients at the day of double J stent removal. The stent was removed 2 weeks postoperatively, and a stent segment sized 3–5 cm from the bladder segment of the stent was sent for culture. Positive stent cultures were found in 63.6% (105/165), 43.1% (66/153), 37% (60/162), and 19.2% (30/156) patients of groups A, B, C, and D, respectively. E. coli was the organism most commonly isolated from the stent culture in all groups. The combination of co-trimoxazole and NAC was more effective in reducing bacterial adherence on ureteral stent surfaces than either alone.