Does the use of ureteral stents with extraction strings increase urinary infection rates?

Purpose: To assess the effect of ureteral stents with extraction string on the rate of postoperative UTI after ureteroscopies.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of patient records who underwent ureteroscopy from January 2011 to August 2014 was performed. Patients were grouped into three groups according to postoperative stent status: non-stented or ureteral catheter for up to 24 h (NS), ureteral stent without extraction string (US) and ureteral stent with an extraction string (US-E).