Skip to main content
. 2019 Feb 21;2019(2):CD012305. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD012305.pub2

MacDermott 1988.

Methods Study design: randomized controlled study
Study dates: not reported
Setting: not reported
Country: UK
Participants Inclusion criteria: participants undergoing cystoscopy for the diagnosis, transurethral resection, or follow‐up of transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder
Exclusion criteria: history of sensitivity to cephalosporins or penicillins, antibiotics or indwelling catheters in the 7 days preoperatively
Sample size: 243 participants entered trial, 26 excluded. Preoperative urine specimens were infected in 28 participants and these were studied as 1 group. Remaining 189 participants divided into 4 groups, depending on preoperative randomization and findings at cystoscopy
Age (years): mean: group 1: 68.4 (range 44–81); group 2: 67.7 (range 25–84); group 3: 69.7 (range 52–83); group 4: 67.4 (range 52–82)
Sex: not reported
Interventions Group 1 (n = 47): cystoscopy showed no bladder tumour recurrence, and participants received cephradine 1 g intramuscularly 6 hours preoperatively, 1 g intravenously on induction of the general anaesthetic, and 1 g orally 12 hours postoperatively
Group 2 (n = 51): no antibiotic
Group 3 (n = 44): cystoscopy showed new or recurrent bladder tumour recurrence, and participants received cephradine 1 g intramuscularly 6 hours preoperatively, 1 g intravenously on induction of the general anaesthetic, and 1 g orally 12 hours postoperatively. Participants had either cystodiathermy or transurethral resection of their bladder tumours
Group 4 (n = 47): no antibiotic. Participants had either cystodiathermy or transurethral resection of their bladder tumours
Outcomes Bacteriuria
How measured: infection defined as a pure culture > 105 CFU/mL
Time points measured: urine specimens collected prior to first dose of antibiotic, on passing the cystoscope and at 5 days
 postoperatively
Time points reported: not reported
Outcomes: group 1: 1/47 participants had bacteriuria; group 2: 8/51 had bacteriuria; group 3: 2/44 had bacteriuria; group 4: 8/47 had bacteriuria
Bacterial resistance
How measured: not reported
Time points measured: urine specimens collected prior to the first dose of antibiotic, on passing the cystoscope and at 5 days postoperatively
Time points reported: not reported
Outcomes: group 1: 0 participants with bacteriuria were resistant to cephradine; group 2: 2/8 with bacteriuria were resistant to cephradine; group 3: 2 participants with bacteriuria were resistant to cephradine; group 4: 2/8 participants with bacteriuria were resistant to cephradine
Adverse events
How measured: not reported
Time points measured: not reported
Time points reported: not reported
Outcomes: no adverse effects reported
Funding sources E. R. Squibb and Sons Ltd for assistance with the funding
Declarations of interest No information about conflict and interest
Notes 28 participants had infection preoperatively,13 were randomized to receive cephradine and 15 to receive no antibiotics. The postoperative urine specimens showed the infection had cleared in 3 participants who had received only the protocol doses of cephradine. All of the other participants in this group required further treatment for their infections.
No email address available for contacting the corresponding author for further information.
Risk of bias
Bias Authors' judgement Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias) Unclear risk Quote: "Patients were randomly allocated into two groups."
Comment: method for generation of random sequence not given.
Allocation concealment (selection bias) Unclear risk Comment: no information regarding the concealment of randomization.
Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias) 
 All outcomes High risk Quote: "Control group received no antibiotic, the trial group received cephradine 1 g intramuscularly 6 h [hours] pre‐operatively, 1 g intravenously on induction of the general anaesthetic and 1 g orally 12 h post‐operatively."
Comment: participants in the control group received no antibiotic prophylaxis, while the treatment group received intravenously antibiotic prophylaxis. Unlikely that participants and personnel were blinded to the intervention.
Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias) 
 Subjective outcomes High risk Quote: "Control group received no antibiotic, the trial group received cephradine 1 g intramuscularly 6 h pre‐operatively, 1 g intravenously on induction of the general anaesthetic and 1 g orally 12 h post‐operatively."
Comment: participants not blinded to their treatment. Risk of detection bias for adverse effects was high.
Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias) 
 Objective outcomes Low risk Comment: bacterial resistance and bacteriuria results were obtained from laboratory. Detection bias for these outcome was unlikely to be influenced by the unblinded design.
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) 
 Systemic UTI Unclear risk Comment: outcome not reported.
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) 
 Symptomatic UTI Unclear risk Comment: outcome not reported (bacteriuria was reported, but without differentiating whether participants had symptoms or not).
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) 
 Serious adverse events Low risk Quote: "Of the 243 patients entering the trial, 26 were excluded (Table 1). Pre‐operative urine specimens were found to be infected in 28 patients and these were studied as one group. The remaining 189 patients were divided into four groups, depending on the pre‐operative randomisation and the findings at cystoscopy."
Comment: 189/243 randomized participants (91 participants in intervention group, 98 in control group) were included for analysis of this outcome. 26 participants excluded with reasons, preoperative urine specimens infected in 28 participants and these were studied as 1 group and analyzed. Overall, loss to follow‐up was less and their reasons were given; therefore, judged adequate.
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) 
 Minor adverse events Low risk Quote: "Of the 243 patients entering the trial, 26 were excluded (Table 1). Pre‐operative urine specimens were found to be infected in 28 patients and these were studied as one group. The remaining 189 patients were divided into four groups, depending on the pre‐operative randomisation and the findings at cystoscopy."
Comment: 189/243 randomized participants (91 participants in intervention group, 98 participants in control group) were included for analysis of this outcome. 26 participants excluded with reasons, preoperative urine specimens infected in 28 participants and these were studied as 1 group and analyzed. Overall, loss to follow‐up was less and their reasons were given; therefore, judged adequate.
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) 
 Localized UTI Unclear risk Comment: outcome not reported
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) 
 Asymptomatic bacteriuria Unclear risk Comment: outcome not reported (bacteriuria was reported, but without differentiating whether participants had symptoms or not).
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) 
 Bacterial resistance Low risk Quote: "Of the 243 patients entering the trial, 26 were excluded (Table 1). Pre‐operative urine specimens were found to be infected in 28 patients and these were studied as one group. The remaining 189 patients were divided into four groups, depending on the pre‐operative randomisation and the findings at cystoscopy."
Comment: 189/243 randomized participants (91 participants in intervention group, 98 participants in control group) were included for analysis of this outcome. 26 participants excluded with reasons, preoperative urine specimens infected in 28 participants and these were studied as 1 group and analyzed. Overall, loss to follow‐up was less and their reasons were given; therefore, judged adequate.
Selective reporting (reporting bias) Unclear risk Comment: data reported on all outcomes specified in methods section, but there was no access to trial protocol/registration to further assess selective reporting.
Other bias Low risk Comment: no other bias detected.