Urinary tract infections and related symptoms in patients with gynecological malignancy treated by radiotherapy [Radyoterapi ile tedavi edilen jinekolojik tümör tanili olgularda alt üriner sistem enfeksiyonlari ve ilişkili bulgular]

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the genitourinary symptoms and the risk of urinary tract infections in patients with gynecological malignancy treated with radiotherapy. METHODS: Mid-stream specimens of urine were collected and urine cultures were performed in 45 patients with gynecological malignancy; genitourinary symptoms were recorded during pelvic radiotherapy. RESULTS: Before the treatment, urinary tract infections were detected in four patients, while during the treatment seven patients had positive urine cultures. Dysuria was recorded in five patients before radiotherapy, and at the end of treatment, 40 cases experienced grade 1 or 2 dysuria. No significant relationship was detected between urinary tract infection and clinical genitourinary symptoms. CONCLUSION: The most effective method to define urinary tract infection in patients with gynecologic malignancies is urine culture during the treatment. Routine prophylactic antibiotherapy is not recommended because of the low risk of infection during radiotherapy