Catheter-associated urinary tract infections in patients with gastric cancer after surgery: A retrospective study

Perioperative catheterization is a well-known risk factor for developing postoperative catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI). The information about the effect of extended urinary catheterization after surgery for gastric cancer is still scarce. This is a retrospective study of 232 patients with gastric cancer who underwent surgery. Patients were divided into 2 groups based on the duration of their catheter placement: <72 hours and 72 hours or more. The primary outcome was CAUTI during the index hospitalization. Logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios in unadjusted, adjusted, and sensitivity models. A dose-response analysis was conducted for ordered catheter duration categories. In patients with catheterization duration ≥72 hours versus those with catheterization <72 hours, CAUTI occurred significantly more frequently. In the unadjusted model, prolonged catheterization remained associated with increased odds of CAUTI, odds ratio = 5.66. The relationship was still significant, adjusting for age, diabetes, and operative time (longer operation time). After omitting patients with shock or severe complications, long-term catheterization was still independently associated with CAUTI, with an odds ratio of 3.99. A significant duration-related trend was observed with a steep increase in CAUTI after 72 hours of catheterization. Urinary catheterization for ≥72 hours was associated with an increased risk of CAUTI after gastric cancer surgery, which warrants the avoidance of unnecessary catheter prolongation if clinically possible.