The influence of lower urinary tract infection on the recurrence rate of superficial transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder.

We studied retrospectively 78 patients with recurrent superficial bladder tumors in an effort to determine whether transitional tumor cells implant and grow preferentially in patients who have undergone endoscopic resection of stage T1 bladder tumors in the presence of an inflamed urothelium. Of the patients 32 (group 1) had an undetected lower urinary tract infection at the time transurethral resection was performed and 46 (group 2) were free of infection. All patients had intravesical chemotherapy by thiotepa (triethylenethiophosphoramide) and were treated with appropriate antibiotics as soon as the urinary tract infection was recognized from 24 to 48 hours postoperatively. Of the patients in group 1, 37.5 per cent had tumor recurrence in less than 6 months and 15.6 per cent in less than 3 months, compared to 30.4 and 6.5 per cent, respectively, in group 2. Although the tumor recurrence rates 3 and 6 months postoperatively were higher among the group 1 patients (with urinary tract infection) the difference between the 2 groups was not significant. Because the patients were treated by intravesical chemotherapy, and antibiotics in those with urinary tract infection, our study does not allow a definite conclusion regarding the contribution of urinary tract infection on the recurrence rate of superficial bladder tumors.