Very Long-term Outcomes After Electrofulguration for Antibiotic-refractory Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections in a Predominantly Menopausal Cohort of Women

Purpose: Antibiotic-refractory recurrent urinary tract infections are challenging to manage. Prior studies have shown that, in selected patients, electrofulguration of cystitis may disrupt potential nidus of recurrent urinary tract infections. We report on long-term outcomes of electrofulguration in women with at least 5 years of follow-up. Materials and Methods: Following Institutional Review Board approval, we analyzed a cohort of nonneurogenic women with >= 3 symptomatic recurrent urinary tract infections/y and inflammatory lesions on cystoscopy who underwent electrofulguration, excluding those with alternate identifiable etiology for recurrent urinary tract infections or less than 5-year follow-up. Preoperative characteristics, antibiotic regimens, and annual urinary tract infections were reported. Primary outcome was clinical cure (0-1 urinary tract infection/y), improvement (>1 and <3/y) or failure (>= 3/y) at last follow-up. Secondary outcomes included need for antibiotics or repeat electrofulguration. A subanalysis was performed for women with >10-year follow-up. Results: From 2006 to 2012, 96 women met study criteria with median age 64. Median follow-up was 11 years (IQR: 10-13.5); 71 women had >10-year follow-up. Prior to electrofulguration, 74% used daily antibiotic suppression, 5% used postcoital prophylaxis, 14% used self-start therapy, and 7% were not on prophylaxis. At last post-electrofulguration visit, 72% of women were cured, 22% improved, and 6% failed. Antibiotic usage decreased post-electrofulguration (P <.05). Five percent were on continuous antibiotics at last follow-up as compared to 74% on continuous antibiotics pre-electrofulguration (McNemar P <.05). Nineteen percent of women underwent a repeat electrofulguration. Conclusions: In menopausal women with over 5-year follow-up after electrofulguration for antibiotic-refractory recurrent urinary tract infections, there appears to be durable clinical cure and improvement, with decreased need for long-term antibiotics.