Factors associated with positive urine cultures in cats with subcutaneous ureteral bypass system implantation

Pennington, C E; Halfacree, Z; Colville-Hyde, C; Geddes, R F

Abstract

Objectives
The aims of this study were to report the postoperative incidence of subcutaneous ureteral bypass (SUB)-associated bacteriuria and risk factors in a large population of UK cats, to identify the commonly implicated isolates in these cases and to report associations of positive postoperative urine cultures with device occlusion or a need for further surgery.

Methods
Electronic clinical records were reviewed to identify cats with ureteral obstruction that underwent unilateral or bilateral SUB implantation between September 2011 and September 2019. In total, 118 client-owned cats were included in the study population. Information recorded included signalment, history, surgical and biochemical factors, urinalysis and culture results. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify variables associated with a positive postoperative culture.

Results
In total, 10 cats (8.5%) had a positive postoperative culture within 1 month postsurgery and 28 cats (23.7%) within 1 year postsurgery. Cats with a positive preoperative culture were significantly more likely to have a positive culture within 6 months postoperatively (odds ratio [OR] 4.09, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.18–14.18; P = 0.026). Of the 14 cats with a positive preoperative culture, six (42.9%) returned a positive culture within 1 year postoperatively, and in four cases (66.7%) the same isolate was identified. Cats with a higher end-anaesthetic rectal temperature were significantly less likely to return a positive culture within 3 months (OR 0.398, 95% CI 0.205–0.772; P = 0.006) postsurgery. Cats culturing positive for Escherichia coli at any time point (OR 4.542, 95% CI 1.485–13.89; P = 0.008) were significantly more likely to have their implant removed or replaced.

Conclusions and relevance
Perioperative hypothermia and preoperative positive culture were independent predictors of a postoperative positive culture and this should be taken into consideration when managing these cases. Positive postoperative culture rates were higher than have previously been reported.

Citation

Pennington, C. E., Halfacree, Z., Colville-Hyde, C., & Geddes, R. F. (2020). Factors associated with positive urine cultures in cats with subcutaneous ureteral bypass system implantation. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 1098612X2095031. https://doi.org/10.1177/1098612X20950312

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 22, 2020
• Publication Date: Aug 25, 2020
• Deposit Date: Sep 17, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Sep 17, 2020
• Journal: Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery
• Print ISSN: 1098-612X
• Electronic ISSN: 1532-2750
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Pages: 1098612X2095031
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1098612X20950312
• Public URL: https://rvc-repository.worktribe.com/output/1376027
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.1177/1098612X20950312