Urinary tract infection is associated with 2.4-fold increased risk of surgical site infection in hip fracture surgery: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: There is no consensus regarding whether urinary tract infection (UTI) should be screened for or treated in hip fracture patients.

Aim: To assess the relationship between perioperative UTI and surgical site infection (SSI) in hip fracture patients, and the relationship between urinary catheterization and SSI in these patients.

Methods: PubMed, Embase, CINAHL and Cochrane Library were searched to identify studies that evaluated the relationship between perioperative UTI and SSI and/or between urinary catheterization and SSI. Articles were included if they used the term UTI or specified UTI as symptomatic bacteriuria.

Findings: A total of 4139 records were identified, with eight studies included. Meta-analysis of seven studies which evaluated perioperative UTI and SSI showed an SSI rate of 7.1% (95% confidence interval (CI): 3.8-13.2) among 1217 patients with UTI vs 2.4% (95% CI: 1.0-5.7) in 36,514 patients without UTI (OR: 2.41; 95% CI: 1.67-3.46; P < 0.001). In three studies which specifically defined UTI as symptomatic bacteriuria, the SSI rate among UTI patients was 5.7% (95% CI: 4.0-8.1) vs 1.1% (95% CI: 0.2-5.2) in those without UTI (OR: 3.00; 95% CI: 0.55-16.26; P = 0.20). One study evaluated urinary catheterization and SSI.

Conclusion: Perioperative UTI is associated with a higher risk of SSI among hip fracture patients but the evidence is limited by the heterogeneity in the definition of UTI. We recommend considering the possibility of perioperative UTI in hip fracture patients, with treatment administered as necessary to reduce SSI rates.