Adherence to AUA Guidelines for Periprocedural Antibiotics for In-Office Cystoscopy after Implementation of a Simple Quality Improvement Protocol.

INTRODUCTION: AUA guidelines recommend periprocedural antibacterial prophylaxis for high risk patients undergoing in-office cystoscopy. We sought to determine if implementation of a simple quality improvement protocol could increase guideline compliance. METHODS: As part of a quality improvement initiative, 4 simple changes were incorporated into our practice for in-office cystoscopy, including creation of a "yes/no" checklist to identify high risk patients, checklist review and electronic antibiotics order placed by urology provider, immediate nurse directed administration of single doses of the most common recommended antibiotics, and review of the checklist and antibiotic administration during the preprocedural time-out. We retrospectively compared antibiotic adherence in patients 3 months before and 3 months after implementation of the intervention. Data collected included age, gender, indication for procedure, type of procedure and high risk status. RESULTS: A total of 307 patients were included in the study (157 before implementation and 150 after implementation of the protocol). In the pre-intervention group 120 patients (76.4%) were considered high risk and should have been administered antibiotic prophylaxis, although only 38 (31.7%) actually received it. In the post-intervention group 104 patients (69.3%) were considered high risk and should have been given antibiotic prophylaxis, and 84 (80.8%) actually received it. Overall, this quality improvement initiative resulted in a 49.1% increase in appropriate antibiotic administration (p <0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of a simple 4-step quality improvement initiative resulted in a significant increase in the administration of appropriate antibiotics for in-office cystoscopy.

Hip abscess due to Aerococcus urinae in a man with paraplegia: case report.

STUDY DESIGN: Single case report. OBJECTIVE: Present a case of hip abscess culture positive for Aerococcus urinae in a man with paraplegia. BACKGROUND: Aerococcus species are uncommonly reported and may be misinterpreted as alpha streptococci or staphylococci. This organism can cause significant morbidity due to urinary tract infection with septicemia or endocarditis. METHODS: Single case report. RESULTS: The patient required surgical incision and debridement. Open joint inspection was performed, which was complicated by superior dislocation. The patient later required a Girdlestone procedure. CONCLUSIONS: A. urinae was cultured from a hip abscess in a man with paraplegia. Bacteremia, with the bladder as the reservoir, likely led to this abscess. Aerococcus is pathogenic and should be considered when culture results reveal unusual staph or strep species.

Ureteroscopy with laser lithotripsy for urolithiasis in the spinal cord injury population.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this investigation was to review the outcomes and safety of retrograde ureteroscopic laser lithotripsy (URS) for the treatment of urolithiasis in the spinal cord injury (SCI) population. SETTING: Virginia, USA. METHODS: All patients with SCI who underwent URS with holmium:YAG laser lithotripsy for urolithiasis over a 15-year period were identified. Stone size, location and number at presentation were recorded. Information regarding patient characteristics, intra-operative complications, surgical efficacy, stone clearance, peri-operative complications, and follow-up stone events was collected and analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 67 URS procedures were performed on 29 SCI patients during the study period with an average follow-up of 3.4 years. Patients had an average of 2.3 ipsilateral ureteroscopies. The majority (85.1%) used indwelling catheters for long-term bladder management, and complete stone clearance after the first procedure was 34.3%. Of the 44 cases with residual stones >4 mm, 20 (45.5%) were secondary to technical or procedural limitations. The intra-operative complication rate was comparable to non-SCI studies at 1.5%, but peri-operative complications were significantly higher at 29.9% with the majority due to urosepsis. Factors associated with peri-operative complications include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, motor incomplete injuries and lack of a pre-operative ureteral stent. CONCLUSION: URS in the SCI population is an effective treatment for ureteral or renal stones but may be associated with greater risks and reduced efficacy.

Primary epithelioid angiosarcoma of the adrenal gland.

Primary angiosarcomas of the adrenal gland are exceptionally rare vascular tumors. We report a case of a 63-year-old man with an epithelioid angiosarcoma of the left adrenal gland. Visualized on computed tomography as a nonhomogeneous round mass, the tumor measured 3 cm in diameter. Histology showed a vascular tumor composed of epithelioid cells with vesicular nuclei and prominent nucleoli that lined irregular vascular spaces and also formed solid areas and showed pleomorphism and rare mitotic activity. Immunohistochemical stain confirmed the diagnosis of epithelioid angiosarcoma. We report our findings and review previously described literature cases of this rare entity.

Expression of cyclooxygenase-1 and cyclooxygenase-2 in the human prostate.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the cell-specific expression of the two major isoforms of cyclooxygenase (COX-1 and COX-2) in human noncancerous and cancerous prostatic tissues. METHODS: Thirty-one specimens of prostate carcinoma (CaP) and 10 specimens of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) were stained with mouse antihuman COX-1 and COX-2 monoclonal antibodies. The stained specimens were analyzed both descriptively and in a semiquantitative manner by assigning an immunoreactive intensity score (0 to 4). The averaged results were compared for different histologic tissue types, including luminal and basal epithelium of BPH, the peripheral zone, high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN), and CaP of varying Gleason grades. RESULTS: COX-1 expression in noncancerous prostatic tissue was seen predominantly in the basal epithelial cells of BPH (90% positive staining). COX-1 expression was minimal in noncancerous luminal epithelial cells (0% to 10%) but was upregulated in CaP (63% of CaP specimens). Strong COX-2 expression was demonstrated in the smooth muscle cells of the prostate. COX-2 was also expressed in the basal epithelial cells (60% BPH, 94% peripheral zone, 75% PIN). Luminal epithelial cells derived from BPH, the peripheral zone, and PIN expressed COX-2 in 0%, 26%, and 86% of samples, respectively. COX-2 expression in CaP was intense and uniform, with 87% of samples demonstrating immunoreactivity. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study indicate that expression of both COX-1 and COX-2 in human CaP is increased. COX-2 expression is also increased in the basal and luminal epithelial cells of PIN. These data indicate that COX-1 and COX-2 (and/or their prostaglandin products) may play a role in the malignant transformation of the prostate.

Immunohistochemical localization of cyclooxygenase-1 and cyclooxygenase-2 in the human fetal and adult male reproductive tracts.

The first rate-limiting step in the conversion of arachidonic acid to PGs is catalyzed by cyclooxygenase (Cox). Two isoforms of Cox have been identified, Cox-1 (constitutively expressed) and Cox-2 (inducible form), which are the products of two different genes. In this study we describe the immunohistochemical localization of Cox-1 and -2 in the human male fetal and adult reproductive tracts. There was no Cox-1 expression in fetal samples (prostate, seminal vesicles, or ejaculatory ducts), and only minimal expression in adult tissues. There was no expression of Cox-2 in the fetal prostate. In a prepubertal prostate there was some Cox-2 expression that localized exclusively to the smooth muscle cells of the transition zone. In adult hyperplastic prostates, Cox-2 was strongly expressed in smooth muscle cells, with no expression in the luminal epithelial cells. Cox-2 was strongly expressed in epithelial cells of both fetal and adult seminal vesicles and ejaculatory ducts. The Cox-2 staining intensity in the fetal ejaculatory ducts during various times of gestation correlated with previously reported testosterone production rates by the fetal testis. These data indicate that Cox-2 is the predominant isoform expressed in the fetal male reproductive tract, and its expression may be regulated by androgens. The distinct cell type-specific expression patterns of Cox-2 in the prostate (smooth muscle) vs. the seminal vesicles and ejaculatory ducts (epithelium) may reflect the different roles of PGs in these tissues.

Pudendal nerve somatosensory evoked potentials in patients with voiding and/or erectile dysfunction: correlating test results with clinical findings.

PURPOSE: We evaluated the diagnostic efficacy of pudendal nerve somatosensory evoked potential testing in patients with voiding and/or erectile dysfunction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 55 consecutive patients with voiding and/or erectile dysfunction underwent pudendal nerve somatosensory evoked potential testing during a 2.5-year period. P1 latencies were analyzed in terms of neurological history and neurological physical examination. RESULTS: Abnormal P1 latencies were noted in 46.7% of patients with a positive neurological history (p = 0.0060), 52.4% with a positive neurological physical examination (p = 0.0580), and 64.7% with a positive history and physical examination (p = 0.0007). No patient with a negative neurological history had abnormal P1 latencies. CONCLUSIONS: Positive neurological history and physical examination findings in patients with voiding and/or erectile dysfunction correlate significantly with abnormal pudendal nerve somatosensory evoked potential latencies. The subgroup of patients with a positive neurological history and physical examination has the greatest diagnostic yield and is best suited for pudendal nerve somatosensory evoked potential testing.